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More (bad) mathematics in The West Wing
Nov. 9th, 2008 11:50 pmIn West Wing season 2, episode 3, "The Midterms", at the end, Sam Seaborn is reporting back the results of the midterm House elections.
He points out that in all races, the incumbent lost. That in all 12 races, the party previously holding the seat lost it. That the election had fallen 7/5 with 7 republican and 5 democrat seats.
And finally, he points out, and the cast marvels, that the actual balance in the House is unchanged.
This is impossible.
If we previously had 7+x democrats and 5+y republicans, and now have 5+x democrats and 7+y republicans, then clearly, the balance has shifted toward the republicans. They have gained, all in all, 4 seats in the balance computations.
If, though, we had a perfect shift of 12 seats that DIDN'T change the playing field, then they had to have been 6/6.
He points out that in all races, the incumbent lost. That in all 12 races, the party previously holding the seat lost it. That the election had fallen 7/5 with 7 republican and 5 democrat seats.
And finally, he points out, and the cast marvels, that the actual balance in the House is unchanged.
This is impossible.
If we previously had 7+x democrats and 5+y republicans, and now have 5+x democrats and 7+y republicans, then clearly, the balance has shifted toward the republicans. They have gained, all in all, 4 seats in the balance computations.
If, though, we had a perfect shift of 12 seats that DIDN'T change the playing field, then they had to have been 6/6.
