poly: star-probe functional forms; economics of morality

I have trouble understanding your expressions.
I don't know which of these suggestions actually change
the form of the answer. Obviously you should discard any of
these complexities that don't affect the answer.

R(s) should probably start at R(0)=0. There are "step function"
effects, as new ore is discovered. And an upper limit --
 eventual exhaustion, except maybe of the stars.

Survival fraction: Might need to reflect somewhat fractal
organization of star systems: clumps of molecules, star clusters,
galaxies, super-clusters, galaxy centers, etc.

Q(P): Would this be affected if a probe could detect that an
oasis is occupied, and bypass it?

----------------------
Economics of morality ...
My personal opinion is that lots of our freedoms are "luxuries",
in the sense that they must be enjoyed as their own reward,
rather than as smart economic decisions. For example, other
countries have a rather different view of the 1st amendment.

Rich Schroeppel rcs@cs.arizona.edu
Received on Thu Feb 5 20:50:10 1998