Daily conversation: What is the worst possible answer?

[I-55]

01/22/2026:

What numbering system would you create for flight routes?

To convey all available information, routes will include: flight number, plane model, call sign, country code of origin, country code of destination, departure airport, runway, and time, arrival airport, runway, and time, cruising altitude, travel time, fuel required.

"Our flight will be taking route 'AA4431-E175LR-RPA-4431-1-1-ORD-27R-1418-MCO-18L-1712-36000-174-3300' today, not to be confused with our original route of 'AA4431-E175LR-RPA-4431-1-1-ORD-27L-1418-MCO-18L-1712-36000-174-3300'"

[kphoger]

To convey all available information, routes will include: flight number, plane model, call sign, country code of origin, country code of destination, departure airport, runway, and time, arrival airport, runway, and time, cruising altitude, travel time, fuel required.

"Our flight will be taking route 'AA4431-E175LR-RPA-4431-1-1-ORD-27R-1418-MCO-18L-1712-36000-174-3300' today, not to be confused with our original route of 'AA4431-E175LR-RPA-4431-1-1-ORD-27L-1418-MCO-18L-1712-36000-174-3300'"

That would be amazing to hear over air traffic control communication.

[xonhulu]

01/22/2026:

What numbering system would you create for flight routes?

They should all be Flight 343.

[kurumi]

01/22/2026:

What numbering system would you create for flight routes?

A BSON ObjectID. They're unique, so flight numbers will not get mixed up. They avoid the "67" problem, because it's cumbersome to make a meme out of a flight number like "695efd789357f3ba6c3339c0", and a futile gesture since you'll never see it again.

ObjectIDs also encode the start time in the first 8 hex digits for easy collation.

IMO this should be in the "best possible answer" thread instead.

Ref: https://www.mongodb.com/docs/manual/reference/method/ObjectId/

[kphoger]

01/22/2026:

What numbering system would you create for flight routes?

North–south routes get odd numbers.  East–west routes get even numbers.

Lowest numbers are in the south and west.

Major routes end with '0' or '1'.

Branch routes end with the same digits as the trunk route, just with an extra digit at the beginning, with the leading digit not following any pattern other than spur routes having an odd first digit.

Duplicate numbers are allowed.

Pattern-breaking numbers are allowed in special cases.

Commuter routes get the same number as the corresponding 'regular' route, but they're displayed in a different color.

[The_Ginger]

01/22/2026:

What numbering system would you create for flight routes?

None. All flights will not be numbered, and be referred to by the full legal name of the passenger sitting in seat π4.

[Scott5114]

01/22/2026:

What numbering system would you create for flight routes?

Would all be named like "Jade 6th route".

[hotdogPi]

01/23/2026:

Pick a route with a number no greater than the region's maximum speed limit, then set the speed limit of the road to the route number.

[1995hoo]

01/23/2026:

Pick a route with a number no greater than the region's maximum speed limit, then set the speed limit of the road to the route number.

To use an example to make sure I understand the question's intent, the highest speed limit anywhere in Maryland is 70 mph. So if I understand you, someone selecting a route from Maryland is to choose a road with a route number of 70 or lower and then give it a 70-mph speed limit, correct?

I nominate MD-70, better-known as Rowe Boulevard. It ends at the traffic circle outside the State House in Annapolis. (Pictures from AARoads.)

[hotdogPi]

To use an example to make sure I understand the question's intent, the highest speed limit anywhere in Maryland is 70 mph. So if I understand you, someone selecting a route from Maryland is to choose a road with a route number of 70 or lower and then give it a 70-mph speed limit, correct?

You have the route number selection correct, but the new speed limit becomes the route number, not the state maximum. (It still works in your case.)

[kphoger]

01/23/2026:

Pick a route with a number no greater than the region's maximum speed limit, then set the speed limit of the road to the route number.

US Route 1–9

Speed limit = –8

[GaryV]

01/23/2026:

Pick a route with a number no greater than the region's maximum speed limit, then set the speed limit of the road to the route number.

In Michigan, M-75. It's close enough to I-75 that they should have the same speed limit. Who cares about little towns with tourists traipsing through the streets?

[1995hoo]

To use an example to make sure I understand the question's intent, the highest speed limit anywhere in Maryland is 70 mph. So if I understand you, someone selecting a route from Maryland is to choose a road with a route number of 70 or lower and then give it a 70-mph speed limit, correct?

You have the route number selection correct, but the new speed limit becomes the route number, not the state maximum. (It still works in your case.)

Ah, yes. A valid point. I did misread it—or at least, I mis-explained my understanding of what I was reading. But I deliberately chose MD-70 because the notion of a 70-mph speed limit on that urban arterial is fundamentally absurd. My overall thought was that in the sense of "worst possible answer" you'd probably want to apply the highest possible speed limit allowed under state law on a road where that is utterly inappropriate. Put differently, if Route 25 runs through a residential area, then a 25-mph speed limit is to be expected.

[wanderer2575]

01/23/2026:

Pick a route with a number no greater than the region's maximum speed limit, then set the speed limit of the road to the route number.

M-1 Woodward Avenue in metro Detroit.  Speed limit = 1.  Does not apply as Worst Possible Answer during the annual Woodward Dream Cruise as it's impossible to go faster than that anyway.

[jlam]

01/23/2026:

Pick a route with a number no greater than the region's maximum speed limit, then set the speed limit of the road to the route number.

M0 in Hungary. You must remain completely still while on the road.

[vdeane]

01/23/2026:

Pick a route with a number no greater than the region's maximum speed limit, then set the speed limit of the road to the route number.

I-5

[kphoger]

I-5

If only it were lowercase:  i-5

[jlam]

I-5

If only it were lowercase:  i-5

You must enter the complex plane to proceed.

[kphoger]

M0 in Hungary.

There are a handful of highways with a letter followed by a zero.  A better example would be the Prague ring road, D0, because its escutcheon is just {0}.



https://maps.app.goo.gl/nS31sQzYZLRQRvA67

[MikeTheActuary]

01/23/2026:

Pick a route with a number no greater than the region's maximum speed limit, then set the speed limit of the road to the route number.

You know, for a truly imaginary answer:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/Jj6xHHHD4ZhtLe25A

[The_Ginger]

Jackson County Road 2/18. It has no posted speed limit, but the new limit will be 2/18, or 1/9, or 0.1 MPH.

[TheCatalyst31]

01/23/2026:

Pick a route with a number no greater than the region's maximum speed limit, then set the speed limit of the road to the route number.

If we go back in time a little, US 310 in Montana gets a 310 MPH speed limit. You can decide for yourself whether actually going that fast counts as "reasonable and prudent".

[pderocco]

01/22/2026:

What numbering system would you create for flight routes?

Sequential, based on departure time.  Number pool is worldwide.  All times are GMT.  All numbers reset to 1 at 00:00 GMT.  Numbers are based on actual departure time, not scheduled departure time.  All numbers get adjusted as flights are bumped up, delayed, added, or canceled.

That last sentence switched it from best possible answer to worst possible answer.

[pderocco]

01/22/2026:

What numbering system would you create for flight routes?

North–south routes get odd numbers.  East–west routes get even numbers.

Lowest numbers are in the south and west.

Major routes end with '0' or '1'.

Branch routes end with the same digits as the trunk route, just with an extra digit at the beginning, with the leading digit not following any pattern other than spur routes having an odd first digit.

Duplicate numbers are allowed.

Pattern-breaking numbers are allowed in special cases.

Commuter routes get the same number as the corresponding 'regular' route, but they're displayed in a different color.

Wow. What an original idea. Wish I thought of that.

[pderocco]

01/23/2026:

Pick a route with a number no greater than the region's maximum speed limit, then set the speed limit of the road to the route number.

Then the joke about "That's the route number, not the speed limit" wouldn't be funny any more.