[Restore]

Ask him if the Drake equation isn't usually written:

N = R* • fp • ne • fl • fi • fc • L

Where R* =The rate of formation of stars suitable for the development of intelligent life. Likewise, L (The length of time such civilizations release detectable signals into space.) is a whole number, not a fraction (fL) as Crichton suggests.

I'm not trying to be an upstart but it seems that the way Crichton writes the equation,

(N=N*fp ne fl fi fc fL)

well, it doesn't make sense.

[pgkdan]

well, it doesn't make sense.

It doesn't make sense any way you write it.

[William Terrell]

Crichton's point about the equation is that there is no way to plug accurate values into the variables, which makes the equation useless regardless of how it is written.