Definition of fencepost error

fencepost error

noun

• a particular class of "off-by-one" errors in which the intuitive answer is incorrect. The following problem illustrates the error:
  
  "How many posts are required to build a 100 foot long fence with posts 10 feet apart?"
  
  The intuitive answer - 10 - is incorrect. (11 posts are required.)
  • See more words with the same meaning: computer slang.

  Last edited on Nov 08 2011. Submitted by WalterGR (via TheJargonFile) on Aug 14 2009.

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Related words

Slang terms with the same meaning

Other terms relating to 'computer slang':
backronym	Definitions include: a word that has come to be an acronym (or is viewed by some as an acronym) when it was not originally an acronym.
IKR	Definitions include: acronym for "I know, right?"
SYAU	Definitions include: acronym for "shut your ass up".
rig	Definitions include: a needle used to inject drugs.
cred	Definitions include: "credibility".
look and feel	Definitions include: the general appearance of software or a website.
tweep	Definitions include: a Twitter user.
gorilla arm	Definitions include: an arm that has become sore, cramped, and / or muscular due to extended use of touch screens on computing devices.
coaster	Definitions include: to ruin writable optical media via a write ("burn") attempt which fails.
hack	Definitions include: to play with a Hacky Sack (footbag.)
wyd	Definitions include: acronym for "what you doing" i.e. "what are you doing".
AFAIUI	Definitions include: acronym for "as far as I understand it".
button masher	Definitions include: a videogame that requires mashing buttons to play, rather than finesse.
ha ha only serious	Definitions include: a joke or "joke" that contains a core of truth.
IMO	Definitions include: acronym for "in my opinion".
(show 591 more)

Slang terms with the same root words

Other terms relating to 'error':
IBM Error	Definitions include: Sands for "Idiot Behind Machine" error.

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