Post by @clew@ecoevo.social

2026-09-18 18:07 UTC

I had a civil engineering prof spend a whole weeks homework on “sometimes the best solution is to do nothing”. It wasn’t written into the homework, it was the explanation afterwards of why all the active solutions were wrong. I think someone in the back actually fell off his chair when the enlightenment hit. @jrconlin@mindof.jrconlin.com

Replies (3)

@darkling@mstdn.social 2026-09-18 20:12

@clew@ecoevo.social @jrconlin@mindof.jrconlin.com We had a coursework group project on my masters (operational research) to optimise a particular system. The trick was that the system as described was, it turned out, already running optimally. The recommended action was "no corrective action -- continue as you have been". It was a useful lesson.

Open ##4755619
@mcmullin@musicians.today 2026-09-18 20:27

@clew@ecoevo.social @jrconlin@mindof.jrconlin.com This reminds me of something my wife learned in med school long ago: https://musicians.today/@mcmullin/114678450081894502

Open ##5080446
@ccferrie@mastodon.ie 2026-09-19 10:38

@clew@ecoevo.social @jrconlin@mindof.jrconlin.com I've lost count of the times a client has come to me looking for an extension to their house and I've respond by showing them how they can better use the space they already have.

Open ##5080449