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Expect the unexpected (Posted on 2006-02-15) Difficulty: 3 of 5
The famous saying, 'expect the unexpected' is well known. However, can it be true?

  Submitted by Paddy    
Rating: 3.3636 (11 votes)
Solution: (Hide)
The solution depends on what you see unexpected and expected to mean. I define unexpected to mean something that you didn't expect.
Dictionary.com's definitions can be found here and here, and these I agree with.

It is therefore an impossibility to expect the unexpected, because if you expect an event, then it is expected, and other events are therefore unexpected.

Let us say there are two events A and B.
If you expect A to happen, B is unexpected, and A is expected.
If you expect B to happen, then A is unexpected, and B is expected.

Therefore, it is an impossibility to expect the unexpected. This happens in any amount of events, because expecting an event makes changes it from being unexpected to being expected.

An arguement against this has been posted here although I disagree with it for reasons stated above!

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)
  Subject Author Date
SolutionUnexpected answerMath Man2014-02-19 17:41:09
SolutionExpected answerMath Man2014-02-19 17:39:47
yeahChandra2006-10-08 17:41:42
re: THE REAL SOLUTION!!!!!!!!!Amber Williams2006-09-13 16:17:01
SolutionNonexsistenceAmber Williams2006-09-13 16:10:35
SolutionNot Literaljonathan horvat2006-08-10 22:18:04
No Subjectalex2006-08-05 03:18:04
It's easy.Peter2006-07-03 22:52:48
re: THE REAL SOLUTION!!!!!!!!!Yosippavar2006-06-28 22:57:11
SolutionTHE REAL SOLUTION!!!!!!!!!Trevor2006-06-28 02:03:41
answerArghman2006-06-02 00:42:22
unexpectedRachael2006-05-18 09:35:26
re: unexpected?james2006-05-14 00:26:04
unexpected?james2006-04-24 09:12:15
Solutionpossible answermatthew walker2006-04-18 10:23:52
Expect someone else's unexpected.Joel2006-04-18 01:00:50
solutionSarah2006-04-06 03:14:46
re: logicallyPaddy2006-02-28 06:15:18
my take on the subjectartifex2006-02-22 00:30:46
SolutionSolutiongoFish2006-02-20 16:36:19
Some Thoughtsmore thoughts on the subjectCharlie2006-02-20 14:07:28
expect...Tristan2006-02-15 21:18:48
SolutionUnexpected Solution.Mindrod2006-02-15 21:12:43
Some ThoughtsIs the Saw sharp?Dej Mar2006-02-15 20:52:54
My ViewVernon Lewis2006-02-15 15:55:44
It is trueBob Smith2006-02-15 15:44:02
Soviet RussiaHugo2006-02-15 14:28:03
using definitionsWallace North2006-02-15 14:11:13
sure it caniamkobe2006-02-15 13:35:17
well...Jer2006-02-15 12:34:43
re: logicallyLeming2006-02-15 12:05:21
SolutionlogicallyWallace North2006-02-15 10:20:32
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