ChatGPT Attempts to Untangle an Abbreviation Riddle
The following 'conversation' is from earlier this year (March of 2024) in which I tried to invent a bit of riddle about the abbreviation 'Nth,' then prompted ChatGPT to see if it was able to unpack the important nuance, so I'd be headed in the right direction as I set off into the forest. At each step, I tried to offer a breadcrumb.
You may want to read the inset ChatGPT dialogue below at this time.
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Jon said: I'm a scientist at work and a camper as a hobby. What does the abbreviation 'Nth' mean to me?
ChatGPT said:As a scientist, you might encounter the term "Nth" in mathematics or computer science contexts, where it refers to an unspecified or variable ordinal number. For instance, you might use it when discussing an arbitrary member in a sequence or when iterating through a set of elements, where "N" represents any natural number.
As a camper, "Nth" might signify a repeated occurrence or instance, such as when you refer to the "Nth time" you've set up your tent or gone hiking in a particular location. It could also denote a general or unspecified iteration of a camping experience, such as the "Nth camping trip" you've taken.
In both contexts, "Nth" is used to convey a generic or unspecified ordinal position or iteration, allowing for flexible discussion without specifying a particular numerical value.
Jon said: Ah-ha, so if I looked at a map when going camping, I could tell that I have 'Nth' steps left either east or west to reach my camping site, correct?
ChatGPT said: Yes, exactly! When referring to the number of steps or units of distance left to reach your camping site on a map, you could use the term "Nth" to indicate an unspecified or variable number of steps. For example, you might say, "I have Nth steps left to reach the camping site," meaning that you have a certain number of steps remaining, but the specific count is not defined. This allows for flexibility in communication without needing to specify an exact distance.
Jon said: Oh, is that how a map works? It tells you how many steps?
ChatGPT said: Apologies for the confusion. I misunderstood your question. Maps typically provide information about distance in terms of units like miles or kilometers, not steps. When using a map for navigation, you would typically estimate the remaining distance based on the scale provided on the map.
In the context of camping, you might use the map to plan your route and estimate the distance you need to travel in terms of miles or kilometers. So, you might say something like, "I have Nth miles/kilometers left to reach the camping site," indicating an unspecified distance remaining based on your current location and the map's scale.
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The first, unspoken clue I offered was that I'm asking quite specifically about two very distinct pursuits: a hypothetical career as a scientist and a purported afterhours outdoor camping pastime. It would seem possible, or maybe even likely, that the subtext of the initial question itself might suggest a markedly different context of this variable for each of these scenarios. Importantly, at the outset I also define "Nth" specifically as an "abbreviation," not as a "variable" or "degree."
After ChatGPT presumes that "Nth" is only an abbreviation for an as yet undefined "ordinal position," I hint in a clarification question that it may actually have something to do with (a) an abbreviation on a map and, perhaps, (b) compass direction, making sure to include "east" and "west." To be fair, I don't flatly indicate that its core logic is at this point, in my estimation, already off course.
Last, I question an apparent inference that the purpose of any map (or "how a map works") is primarily about gauging distance rather than the other contextual layers of a map — ie. cardinal direction, topography, landmark reference, etc. ChatGPT takes this as an opportunity to "re-think" unit measurements (changing "steps" to "kilometers") and, interestingly, picks up on map "scale" as consideration.
Throughout the experiment, I'm most surprised not by the fact that we're misaligned (as humans can easily be, as well!) in our understanding of True North — "Nth" appearing in scientific journals and the map provided at a ranger station with entirely different meanings — but, rather, the confidence with which the answers are delivered. For example, ChatGPT notes:
"In both contexts, 'Nth' is used" rather than, alternatively, "In both contexts, 'Nth' could be used" or "In both contexts, 'Nth' might be used"and later in the exchange:"Yes, exactly!" when given a prompt for clarification ending in a question mark rather than, alternatively, the less exuberant, but more appropriate, "I think so, but maybe we're not aligned."
