Comments on: Guardian vs Daily Mail: who is the one who made the mistake? http://www.libdemvoice.org/guardian-vs-daily-mail-who-is-the-one-who-made-the-mistake-3201.html Our place to talk - an independent website for supporters of the Liberal Democrat party in the UK. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:55:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mark Wright http://www.libdemvoice.org/guardian-vs-daily-mail-who-is-the-one-who-made-the-mistake-3201.html#comment-59075 Mark Wright Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:22:06 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=3201#comment-59075 No! :) No! :)

]]> By: Andrew http://www.libdemvoice.org/guardian-vs-daily-mail-who-is-the-one-who-made-the-mistake-3201.html#comment-59067 Andrew Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:46:42 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=3201#comment-59067 <blockquote> The whole thing is probably the fault of an idiot techie who used the ceil() function in place of the round() function </blockquote> Ah, politics and mathematical programming together - does life get any better than this?

The whole thing is probably the fault of an idiot techie who used the ceil() function in place of the round() function

Ah, politics and mathematical programming together – does life get any better than this?

]]> By: Jay Entee http://www.libdemvoice.org/guardian-vs-daily-mail-who-is-the-one-who-made-the-mistake-3201.html#comment-59062 Jay Entee Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:14:51 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=3201#comment-59062 Guido, how do you feel a sound ? Guido, how do you feel a sound ?

]]> By: Clegg's Candid Friend http://www.libdemvoice.org/guardian-vs-daily-mail-who-is-the-one-who-made-the-mistake-3201.html#comment-59061 Clegg's Candid Friend Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:05:20 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=3201#comment-59061 No doubt if you use a peculiar enough rounding algorithm, you can get whatever results you like. I don't believe anyone would consider applying such a strange algorithm to opinion poll results. And, after all, George C was responding to a specific suggestion that the total of 103 could be caused by rounding "to the nearest whole number". No doubt if you use a peculiar enough rounding algorithm, you can get whatever results you like. I don’t believe anyone would consider applying such a strange algorithm to opinion poll results.

And, after all, George C was responding to a specific suggestion that the total of 103 could be caused by rounding “to the nearest whole number”.

]]> By: Alix Mortimer http://www.libdemvoice.org/guardian-vs-daily-mail-who-is-the-one-who-made-the-mistake-3201.html#comment-59060 Alix Mortimer Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:41:05 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=3201#comment-59060 That's it. The Round-Ceiling algorithm. On the tip of my tongue. That’s it. The Round-Ceiling algorithm. On the tip of my tongue.

]]> By: Rob Knight http://www.libdemvoice.org/guardian-vs-daily-mail-who-is-the-one-who-made-the-mistake-3201.html#comment-59059 Rob Knight Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:36:32 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=3201#comment-59059 CCF: http://www.diycalculator.com/popup-m-round.shtml would appear to disagree with you. The Round-Ceiling algorithm rounds any number over a whole integer up to the next whole integer. The whole thing is probably the fault of an idiot techie who used the ceil() function in place of the round() function (or whatever their platform-specific equivalents), but I suspect that we may never know! CCF: http://www.diycalculator.com/popup-m-round.shtml would appear to disagree with you. The Round-Ceiling algorithm rounds any number over a whole integer up to the next whole integer. The whole thing is probably the fault of an idiot techie who used the ceil() function in place of the round() function (or whatever their platform-specific equivalents), but I suspect that we may never know!

]]> By: Alix Mortimer http://www.libdemvoice.org/guardian-vs-daily-mail-who-is-the-one-who-made-the-mistake-3201.html#comment-59058 Alix Mortimer Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:35:25 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=3201#comment-59058 @CCF It can if you're fully rounding up or down (i.e. to the integer that is the next up/down respectively, rather than the one that is nearest). I.e 3.2 would be rounded to 3 using halves rounding, and also to 3 using down rounding, but to 4 using up rounding. Can anyone remind me of the technical terms, dammit? @CCF

It can if you’re fully rounding up or down (i.e. to the integer that is the next up/down respectively, rather than the one that is nearest).

I.e 3.2 would be rounded to 3 using halves rounding, and also to 3 using down rounding, but to 4 using up rounding. Can anyone remind me of the technical terms, dammit?

]]> By: Guido Fawkes http://www.libdemvoice.org/guardian-vs-daily-mail-who-is-the-one-who-made-the-mistake-3201.html#comment-59057 Guido Fawkes Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:29:03 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=3201#comment-59057 Can you hear a loud "WHOOSH!" sound John & Jay? Can you hear a loud “WHOOSH!” sound John & Jay?

]]> By: Clegg's Candid Friend http://www.libdemvoice.org/guardian-vs-daily-mail-who-is-the-one-who-made-the-mistake-3201.html#comment-59055 Clegg's Candid Friend Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:10:59 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=3201#comment-59055 "CCF, well that depends upon whether you’re rounding halves and whether you’re rounding consistently." There's nothing complicated about this. Rounding can't increase a number by more than 0.5, however you're doing it. “CCF, well that depends upon whether you’re rounding halves and whether you’re rounding consistently.”

There’s nothing complicated about this. Rounding can’t increase a number by more than 0.5, however you’re doing it.

]]> By: Jay Entee http://www.libdemvoice.org/guardian-vs-daily-mail-who-is-the-one-who-made-the-mistake-3201.html#comment-59054 Jay Entee Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:08:03 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=3201#comment-59054 BTW Iain Dale is become a bit tetchy isn't he. BTW Iain Dale is become a bit tetchy isn’t he.

]]> By: Jay Entee http://www.libdemvoice.org/guardian-vs-daily-mail-who-is-the-one-who-made-the-mistake-3201.html#comment-59053 Jay Entee Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:57:57 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=3201#comment-59053 I feel the bottom of a barrel is being scraped. If Guido wants to look like a tool, then let him, I find it funny. I feel the bottom of a barrel is being scraped. If Guido wants to look like a tool, then let him, I find it funny.

]]> By: LiberalHammer http://www.libdemvoice.org/guardian-vs-daily-mail-who-is-the-one-who-made-the-mistake-3201.html#comment-59032 LiberalHammer Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:39:11 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=3201#comment-59032 So the Mail prints untruths. I'm looking forward to the article on bears' defecatory habits in woodland and the religion of the Pope. So the Mail prints untruths. I’m looking forward to the article on bears’ defecatory habits in woodland and the religion of the Pope.

]]> By: Oranjepan http://www.libdemvoice.org/guardian-vs-daily-mail-who-is-the-one-who-made-the-mistake-3201.html#comment-59029 Oranjepan Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:18:20 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=3201#comment-59029 CCF, well that depends upon whether you're rounding halves and whether you're rounding consistently. This is the DM we're talking about, you're assuming they're rigorous in their logic! CCF, well that depends upon whether you’re rounding halves and whether you’re rounding consistently.

This is the DM we’re talking about, you’re assuming they’re rigorous in their logic!

]]> By: Clegg's Candid Friend http://www.libdemvoice.org/guardian-vs-daily-mail-who-is-the-one-who-made-the-mistake-3201.html#comment-59028 Clegg's Candid Friend Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:00:56 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=3201#comment-59028 OranjepanL "George C, it’s simple maths - one rounding down, three roundings up means a four-way poll can round to 103. Stop over-playing your hand." George C. is quite right. Rounding up a number can increase it by at most 0.5. Rounding up four numbers can increase their total by at most 4 x 0.5 = 2. OranjepanL
“George C, it’s simple maths – one rounding down, three roundings up means a four-way poll can round to 103. Stop over-playing your hand.”

George C. is quite right. Rounding up a number can increase it by at most 0.5. Rounding up four numbers can increase their total by at most 4 x 0.5 = 2.

]]> By: John http://www.libdemvoice.org/guardian-vs-daily-mail-who-is-the-one-who-made-the-mistake-3201.html#comment-59011 John Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:54:55 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=3201#comment-59011 Guido is getting increasingly ridiculous isnt he? Not as bad as Iain Dale's petty rants about Ed Davey though. They'd be hilarious, if he wasnt trying to bring troops in to them. Guido is getting increasingly ridiculous isnt he?

Not as bad as Iain Dale’s petty rants about Ed Davey though. They’d be hilarious, if he wasnt trying to bring troops in to them.

]]> By: Oranjepan http://www.libdemvoice.org/guardian-vs-daily-mail-who-is-the-one-who-made-the-mistake-3201.html#comment-59010 Oranjepan Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:47:22 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=3201#comment-59010 George C, it's simple maths - one rounding down, three roundings up means a four-way poll can round to 103. Stop over-playing your hand. George C, it’s simple maths – one rounding down, three roundings up means a four-way poll can round to 103. Stop over-playing your hand.

]]> By: George C http://www.libdemvoice.org/guardian-vs-daily-mail-who-is-the-one-who-made-the-mistake-3201.html#comment-59006 George C Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:30:52 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=3201#comment-59006 The figures in the lost data question from the Mail ARE impossible. Even with rounding, the maximum a four option question could round to is 102%. The figures in the lost data question from the Mail ARE impossible. Even with rounding, the maximum a four option question could round to is 102%.

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