In preperation for the new release of Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy, I started watching the BBC series on DVD. Again. There is a spot, where Man is argueing with God, about God not existing. As man explains his argument, he ends it with "QED". What does QED mean??? This has been puzzling me for some time now.

It's not a british phrase, it's a logicians phrase.

Literally, it's acronym for a phrase in latin - "quod erat demonstrandum" ("that which was to be demonstrated")

Most often used by mathematicians and logicians at the end of proofs. It's a bit old fashioned and has fallen out of use in recent years.



Saw Hitchiker's Guide on Tuesday. Pretty good, though I predict enjoyment of the film will be in direct inverse proportion to how familiar you are with the subject matter - it takes a lot of liberties, not all for the best.

Thanks Joshua! One puzzle solved, 27 left ;) I have been watching British productions most of my life, and had never heard that term until hitchiker. But then, I never learned Latin, and would have never guessed those roots. FAB :)

"It's not a british phrase, it's a logicians phrase."

This is a rather subtle thing to say, depending on how one takes it. Not sure if all our UK members will disagree. But some sure will!

There used to be a documentary show on the Beeb (now that is a British phrase) entitled ... QED.

"There used to be a documentary show on the Beeb (now that is a British phrase) entitled ... QED."

Since we only recently got BBC America, I only got to watch a few select shows, like Monty Python, Thunderbirds, Dr Who, the Goodies, Dave Allen and Benny Hill. You know, the good shows ;)

Now that the BBC is shown here, I've been watching more, but still don't watch the talk shows or news.