A sentence in natural language can often be interpreted in two ways, but in mathematics, we must be precise in our use of language and avoid ambiguity. This often least to humorous interpretations of street signs and the results can be adorable.
Take this street sign example, which I photographed in September of 2010 at the Happy Paws pet store near NYU. It’s a wonderful sign on a messy street that immediately attracted my attention and confusion.
Do Not Litter And Feed The Birds
Please leave a comment below on how you understand this sign:
A) Two separate commands: you should not litter AND you should feed the birds. Why?
B) You should neither litter nor feed the birds. Why?
C) You should either not litter or not feed the birds, or do neither. Why?
D) All of the above (and why?)
E) Explain a distinct interpretation.
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