Spherical cow
An illustration of a spherical cow.
A spherical cow is a metaphor that is used when a complex scientific model is made more simple than it really should be.[1]
The words "spherical cow" came from a joke where a dairy farmer talks to a theoretical physicist about how to get more money for his milk. The physicist later talks about an answer to the problem at a seminar. The physicist says "First, we assume a spherical cow..."[2] Sometimes, a "spherical horse" is used instead of a cow. For example, there is a joke about a physicist who says that he can find out who will win a race if it had a "spherical horse moving through a vacuum".[3]
Spherical Cow Media
- Approksimoidaan pyöreä lehmä.jpg
A drawing of a spherical cow on skis, with the text Approksimoidaan pyöreä lehmä (Finnish for "We approximate a spherical cow").
References
- ↑ Shelton, Robin. Spherical Cows.
- ↑ Kirkman, T. W.. Spherical Cow: A Simple Model. Statistics to Use (1996). Retrieved December 8, 2020.
- ↑ Hefley, Bill. Service science, management and engineering: education for the 21st century (February 1, 2008)Springer. p. 80. ISBN 978-0-387-76577-8. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
