| Revision as of 17:28, 6 October 2003 editPcb21 (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users20,408 edits In mathematical finance, the term is also used as a informal synonym for arbitrage.← Previous edit | Revision as of 17:43, 6 October 2003 edit undoPcb21 (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users20,408 edits oopsNext edit → | ||
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| '''TANSTAAFL''' is an acronym for the adage "There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch," which was invented by ] ] ] and promulgated in his ] novel '']''. Simply put, it means that you can't ]. Even if something appears to be free, there's always a catch -- someone wants something from you in return. | '''TANSTAAFL''' is an acronym for the adage "There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch," which was invented by ] ] ] and promulgated in his ] novel '']''. Simply put, it means that you can't ]. Even if something appears to be free, there's always a catch -- someone wants something from you in return. | ||
| This argument may also be applied to natural physical processes; see ]. In ], the term is also used as a informal synonym for ]. | This argument may also be applied to natural physical processes; see ]. In ], the term is also used as a informal synonym for the principle of no-]. | ||
Revision as of 17:43, 6 October 2003
TANSTAAFL is an acronym for the adage "There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch," which was invented by science fiction writer Robert A. Heinlein and promulgated in his 1966 novel The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Simply put, it means that you can't get something for nothing. Even if something appears to be free, there's always a catch -- someone wants something from you in return.
This argument may also be applied to natural physical processes; see thermodynamics. In mathematical finance, the term is also used as a informal synonym for the principle of no-arbitrage.