this post was submitted on 15 Nov 2025
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Math Memes
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Not sure about number 2. You can have two folders that have identical contents but aren't the same folder. I don't think anyone would reasonably use the word "equal" to describe that situation.
Yep, they'd have different inodes. But one could argue about the definition of equality...
Nonetheless, a very interesting post!
Java coming in with the == vs .equals()
The two folders'
.would be different.In computer science this difference is called value types vs identity types. Value types are "equal" if their value is the same whereas, identity types are "equal" if they are the same actual instance. So what "equal" means changes.
For instance (using fantasy syntax),
new Vector(1,2) == new Vector(1,2)as they are conceptually the same object, butnew Person ("John Smith") ≠ new Person ("John Smith")as two persons can be different people even of they share their name, so they cannot be assumed to be the same.I have no idea how this maps to actual math though.
But is it the "same" file or just an identical one?
If you tar the contents of the two, you’d be unable to attribute the archives to any specific one.