Originally Posted by tellyho
"n" is algebra. You know, that stuff you learned in high school. Otherwise known as a variable. Stands in for a number when you don't have an exact number. In this case, the number "n" stands for is the number of balls that fit tightly in your bottom bracket/headset/hub race.
I think there is a disagreement to what the "n" actually is. I understand what you are saying in that "n" is the number of ball bearings that fit perfectly on a race. Whereas Cascade168 on this thread (page 1, 9th post) says that n is the number of ball bearings that are actually one too many to fit perfectly on the race. Something he refers to as "jumble". Who is right?
Is "n" the number of ball bearings that will fit perfectly on a race? Or is "n" the number of ball bearings that are one too many from fitting perfectly on the race?