Google

[stopthegop]

I did a Boolean search on google a few min ago and noticed something kind of strange.  I can't remember the exact terms I used, but here's an example:


SEARCH #1: "Jack and Jill" && "went up"
Returned 3,500,000 results...

Search #2: "Jack and Jill" && "went up" && "the hill"
Returned 5,100,000 results...


How is it possible that it returned more results when I narrowed the search?   This happened using the AND operator, not OR.  

[stopthegop]

Anyways, Yeah, you dont need the operators...!

Those aren't the operators I used.  I was trying to make clear the larger question, which is:

Why does search #2 contain more results than search #1?  


It makes no sense because the first is a superset of the second.  I've seen this a few times actually, and not just with Google.  To me it means one of two things;

1)either the results are deliberately manipulated or misrepresented.

or

2)the programmers have their heads up their @ss.

My guess is its a little bit of both.      :roll:

[stopthegop]

I know this works:

SEARCH:  amiga site:ebay.*

will search ebay.co.uk, ebay.de, ebay.com, ebay.au, etc...