Homework on Consensus - Questions

Blockchain and Bitcoin 101
#6009

1. What does it mean when we say that in blockchain, consensus determine the truth?

It is through consensus that we come to a final output that is (as close as possible to) the truth. We achieve this truthful consensus by incentivising all the different participants in a network to tell the truth.

2. How is this different from how truth is determined in a central database?

In a central database, the database owner has the final say in which data is presented as truth. In blockchain, however, we remove this trust component through decentralization. We make sure there is no single party (a potential bad actor) that can tamper with the data, and that anyone can at all times verify that what is in a database is in fact true.

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#6010

1. What does it mean when we say that in blockchain, consensus determine the truth?
It means that if all computers agree on a specific version (a new updated ledger) it will be taken as the real one, as the truth.
2. How is this different from how truth is determined in a central database?
In central database, the truth depends on what someone (or a group of people) say, it could be a lie or not, we cannot track it, it’s based on people trust for eachother.

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#6011

It means that with everyone having a copy of the blockchain and them being incentivized, to tell the truth, a consensus of whether a new transaction is valid or not is made to make sure that all valid transactions are put on the blockchain. This adds credibitlity to the blockchain and gives people more of an incentive to participate on that blockchain.

When truth is determined in a central database, the community has to trust that the entity in control of that database is telling the truth all the time. Unfortunately, if the entity is not telling the truth, the community may not find out and be taken advantage of. With the consensus method, it gets rid of tha trust in on central entity and puts it into the verification process of the public ledger for all to see at all times.

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#6012

  1. What does it mean when we say that in blockchain, consensus determines the truth?
    It means that all of the nodes on the network must all agree what is true, what transactions should be permitted , and what can be written to blockchain.T

  2. How is this different from how truth is determined in a central database?
    The difference is that in a central database, there is no consensus, there aren’t other nodes which determine and validate what is true.

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#6013

1Verified.
2Trusted.

#6014

  1. It means that there are several other parties who are confirming transactions at the same time. Things are cleared simultaneously by all parties involved. This takes care of shady business being done without the other parties being aware.

  2. In a central database information isnt cleared or confirmed by everyone, only a few. This allows for corruption.

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#6015

1- It means that the truth is decided and agreed by the people or the users.

2- In a central database there is a central authority that decides the truth.

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#6016

What does it mean when we say that in blockchain, consensus determine the truth?

  • is determinated if the mayority says the transaction is true, all is based in the ledger

How is this different from how truth is determined in a central database?

  • in a database the true is decision of the company and not for multiple parts
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#6017

  1. Miners are incentivised to come to the same consensus when validating transactions through financial reward.

  2. In a Database the truth can be skewed by third parties ie tampering with votes in an election.

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#6018
  1. Because in the blockchain everything is transparent and traceable by everyone, real-time auditing is enabled so no one can cheat.
  2. In a central database, first not anyone has the right to access, even on read-mode. Second, since a central database is by definition centralized, it might be subject to manipulation, falsification by third parties, or errors due to technical problems. Consequently, displayed data might not be the most transparent and the closest to the truth.
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#6019

  1. What does it mean when we say that in blockchain, consensus determine the truth? That the many nodes in the network have confirmed that the information input is accurate and worthy of an output

  2. How is this different from how truth is determined in a central database? A centralized network determines truth on it’s own terms, is not transparent and can be altered by it’s authority.

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#6020

  1. It means All of the computers in the blockchain network must agree that the transaction that is attempting to join the blockchain is valid. They all have a copy of the blockchain, and if all of them disagree or can’t process your transaction it won’t be added to the blockchain.

  2. A central database may be altered by the owner of the database to make changes. A transaction can be made true. Using consensus, however, gives you ability to use trusltess technology.

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#6021

Thanks Ivan for the Question:

Anwsers below:,

1.Consensus determine the truth through incentive and uniting the transparency of data with all network within the blockchain network. Consensus has increase the trust in decentralized system of network.

2, The difference majorly in that this is decentralized incentive and transparency.

1 Like
#6022
  1. What does it mean when we say that blockchain, consensus determine the truth?
    -Consensus in blockchain mean that a group of computers (nodes) have mathematically confirmed that data is true through past transactions or poW. The nodes work together to maintain the trustless data.
  2. How is this different from how truth is determined in a central database?
    -The network is decentralized or trustless with no authority oversight whereas in a central database it has an authority overseeing and intervening.
1 Like
#6023
  1. What does it mean when we say that in blockchain, consensus determines the truth? the truth is stemmed from the highest amount of PoW and the entire network has to agree, keeping the network honest.
  2. How is this different from how truth is determined in a central database? one or a few people can choose the truth they want.
2 Likes
#6024
  1. It means: The truth is decided by many ledgers that share the same data to verify.
  2. In the central database world, its only one that hold the truth, and he can be easily manipulated by code twisters ;p
1 Like
#6025
  1. all computers- nodes- in the network have to ultimately agree on what is truth- and the are incentivized financially to be honest about it.
  2. This real-time consensus mechanism doesn’t really exist in a centralized database. The is 1 copy with maybe a backup. there may be mechanisms that run to highlight differences and synch the copies but they are all synched to the 1 db and human intervention is frequently needed which can cause problems ( I see this in my current job.)
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#6026

1.) Consensus determines truth in blockchain through a mathematical agreement made by a network of computers. These computers verify every transaction that is attempted/made, and all have to concur on whether the transaction can truly happen in a mathematical sense.
2.) This is different from how truth is determined in a central database because there are no missing steps or middle-men companies that require one’s trust. Transactions in a central database can be skewed or carried out without any provenance, and can sometimes be untrue mathematically (no original verification).

1 Like
#6027

1- it means the truth is decided and agreed upon collectively .

2- in a central database there is an authority that decides what the truth is .

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#6028
  1. What does it mean when we say that in blockchain, consensus determine the truth?
  • A decision on whether or not to record transaction or ‘add’ on to the public ledger requires all participants to validate the legitimacy of transaction.
  1. How is this different from how truth is determined in a central database?
    -Truth is determined by a single entity with all voting power in central database whereas with blockchain, truth is determined by multiple entities all agreeing on the decision
1 Like