compilerbitch: That's me, that is! (Default)
compilerbitch ([personal profile] compilerbitch) wrote2007-03-25 06:10 pm

Dining philosophers



(from the paper I'm currently working on. Look at the Wikipedia article if you don't already know about the problem)

In other news, it seems that I can taste sugar again. No wasabi peas for me for a while. :-)

[identity profile] det3.livejournal.com 2007-03-26 01:38 am (UTC)(link)
Heh. I first learned of that dilemma when I read Tannenbaum. Stuck with me ever since.

[identity profile] pinguhateseng.livejournal.com 2007-03-26 11:59 am (UTC)(link)
I had a read but...call me awfully practical, but can't they just take turns to take the plate with the pasta and using one fork, twist and plop appropriate amounts onto their plates? It's not that hard...is it?

I realise it's meant to illustrate a computing issue...'fraid I don't really get the gist though....erm.

Enough of showing my complete ignornace :)

[identity profile] pinguhateseng.livejournal.com 2007-03-26 12:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Re-reading though and pondering...I get the idea better with the "rice and chopstick" issue, assuming each philosopher only has one chopstick.

Hm.

Interesting.

[identity profile] mageboltrat.livejournal.com 2007-03-26 12:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Microsoft as always came up with an innovative solution to this problem

[identity profile] fatdog.livejournal.com 2007-03-26 03:56 pm (UTC)(link)
i think the answer is either

a) None of them can use a fork because none of them has any arms.

or

b) Philospohers don't like Italian food.



Do I win £5 ?

[identity profile] 4zumanga.livejournal.com 2007-03-26 06:17 pm (UTC)(link)
I didn't know there was much left to say about the Philospher's problem. Then again, I spend all my time solving NP-complete problems, and you'd think except for finally answering if P = NP or not, there wasn't much left to say there.