The number of valid 10-digit North American phone numbers are (using the current numbering system):
Special Numbers: 211 – 911 (8)
Regular Area Codes: First digit is not 0 nor 1. Next 2 digits are 0-9, but not both 1. It used to be that the middle digit of the area code was 0 or 1, but newer area codes have used the other digits as well, when most of those area codes were already assigned.
8 * 1 * 9 + 8 * 9 * 10 = 72 + 720 = 792 Valid area codes.
In each area code, the exchanges 200-999 are available. 555 is used for special purposes, as well as the N11 services, which are not available for exchange numbers. Several other exchanges will not be assigned at a given time for various other reasons as well, but this varies from area code to area code. This leaves 8*10*10 – 1 – 8 = 791 exchanges in each valid area code. Each exchange has 10000 valid (usually) numbers. So the total potential phone number count in North America is 8+ 792*791*10000 = 6 264 720 008. In excess of 6 billion potential phone numbers. A few hundred million of these numbers are currently assigned. This does not even consider all the international calls accessible via 011.
Looking at that range, more than likely, if you just dialed 10 digits at random, or until the switching software at the phone company had gotten enough information to route the call, you would more than likely not get connected.
Oh, it appears I goofed. Area codes do not use 9 as a middle digit. There are up to 7 919 900 phone numbers in each area code (thank you Wikipedia) with [2-9][0-8][0-9] – [2-9]11 for area codes. Many of the nearly 8 million phone numbers in an area code will actually not hit an actual phone as they might not be assigned to an actual station yet, or connect to a fax machine or modem (less and less as more people switch to broadband). So she was still lucky to connect to a real person.
This is the kind of thing bored mathematicians do when they can’t fall asleep again after waking up in the middle of the night.
Areas tend to have similar conventions… If I were to randomly call a number, I’d probably go with (my area code) – (299 / 298 / 297 / 296 / 295 / or 292) – (4 digit number) because that’s what I deal with most of the time.
An young male economist is at a party talking with an attractive young female.
He does not ask for her phone number.
Q: Why not?
A: If an economist does not know a number, he just estimates it!
But Modest was banned from the store. Well, maybe it wasn’t specifically stated that she was banned, but she’s going to have to wait for someone else’s shift before going back.
She often has an index finger and thumb. This isn’t the first time.
If she looks off in this strip it may be because I’ve drawn this and the last strip in photoshop instead of on paper with a pen. I’m still getting used to digital drawing.
Jake’s said before she does have actual fingers underneath her scaled flesh glove. Some days the skin tightens in different places to go from mittens. to a couple of fingers, to full hands. She is a growing, magical, girl after all. [not to be confused with a giant girl in a senshi uniform which would be a Growing Magical Girl.}
Yeah, I remember seeing the ‘bones’ back in season 1, but I didn’t remember seeing her index finger before.
@Jake: Really, she only looks off in the last panel. Her head and snakes look too big for her body. The rest of the strip is up to your usual high standard.
The number of valid 10-digit North American phone numbers are (using the current numbering system):
Special Numbers: 211 – 911 (8)
Regular Area Codes: First digit is not 0 nor 1. Next 2 digits are 0-9, but not both 1. It used to be that the middle digit of the area code was 0 or 1, but newer area codes have used the other digits as well, when most of those area codes were already assigned.
8 * 1 * 9 + 8 * 9 * 10 = 72 + 720 = 792 Valid area codes.
In each area code, the exchanges 200-999 are available. 555 is used for special purposes, as well as the N11 services, which are not available for exchange numbers. Several other exchanges will not be assigned at a given time for various other reasons as well, but this varies from area code to area code. This leaves 8*10*10 – 1 – 8 = 791 exchanges in each valid area code. Each exchange has 10000 valid (usually) numbers. So the total potential phone number count in North America is 8+ 792*791*10000 = 6 264 720 008. In excess of 6 billion potential phone numbers. A few hundred million of these numbers are currently assigned. This does not even consider all the international calls accessible via 011.
Looking at that range, more than likely, if you just dialed 10 digits at random, or until the switching software at the phone company had gotten enough information to route the call, you would more than likely not get connected.
Oh, it appears I goofed. Area codes do not use 9 as a middle digit. There are up to 7 919 900 phone numbers in each area code (thank you Wikipedia) with [2-9][0-8][0-9] – [2-9]11 for area codes. Many of the nearly 8 million phone numbers in an area code will actually not hit an actual phone as they might not be assigned to an actual station yet, or connect to a fax machine or modem (less and less as more people switch to broadband). So she was still lucky to connect to a real person.
This is the kind of thing bored mathematicians do when they can’t fall asleep again after waking up in the middle of the night.
Weird. I used to dial people at random all teh time when I was a kid. Most of the time I got a connection.
Yeah, you might occasionally dial a meaningless number, but most of the time it works.
Areas tend to have similar conventions… If I were to randomly call a number, I’d probably go with (my area code) – (299 / 298 / 297 / 296 / 295 / or 292) – (4 digit number) because that’s what I deal with most of the time.
An young male economist is at a party talking with an attractive young female.
He does not ask for her phone number.
Q: Why not?
A: If an economist does not know a number, he just estimates it!
In space, that is so cute.
But Modest was banned from the store. Well, maybe it wasn’t specifically stated that she was banned, but she’s going to have to wait for someone else’s shift before going back.
The figure changed to cloth color once again…It will be a running gag now? LOL
Ha! You went with it and changed the anime figure shirt colour everytime! 😀
Seems like Modest still hasn’t got the hang of “logic” :p
Hey! The doll’s jacket changed colors again. This time red. She must have a wardrobe hidden nearby.
Spaaaaaaaccceeeeee
Aw, you beat me to it. 😀
Space? Space?! SPAAAAAAACE!!!
The shirt is now neither white nor tan. =P I think you’re doing it on purpose now. 🙂
She’s an attorney, not a detective, f’Petessake. Well, at least not yet.
Still keeping up. Glad you’re still updating.
Glad you’re still reading!
Ha, the jacket on the figurine, hilarious.
Is this the first time Modest has been drawn with seperate fingers?
Also, sorry if this is a critism, but does she look slightly off-model to anyone else?
She often has an index finger and thumb. This isn’t the first time.
If she looks off in this strip it may be because I’ve drawn this and the last strip in photoshop instead of on paper with a pen. I’m still getting used to digital drawing.
Jake’s said before she does have actual fingers underneath her scaled flesh glove. Some days the skin tightens in different places to go from mittens. to a couple of fingers, to full hands. She is a growing, magical, girl after all. [not to be confused with a giant girl in a senshi uniform which would be a Growing Magical Girl.}
Yeah, I remember seeing the ‘bones’ back in season 1, but I didn’t remember seeing her index finger before.
@Jake: Really, she only looks off in the last panel. Her head and snakes look too big for her body. The rest of the strip is up to your usual high standard.
I just assumed that was his style of drawing, just like the Simpson characters have overbites and Mickey Mouse has 3 fingers.
It’s a good thing these random people Modest winds up meeting are both intelligent and helpful.
Jokes on him. Ekans/Beans is part of NASA’s Child Astronaut Division.
Or the NSA. If that’s the case then EVERY number is her number. 😛
When I was a kid, I did the random phonecall thingy, apparently mum figured out that I somehow called someone from Iceland.
I bet your mom was really happy about that.
I wish my Tomoyo changed colours like that. That’d be awesome!
Awww ♡! I just love how everyone is so helpful to her! ♡