This is topic Snapper Math... in forum Grist for the Mill at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.


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Posted by snapper (Member # 7299) on :
 
...will make you groan like real math.

You probably wouldn't be shocked to learn that our math skills decline sharply once we leave school. Anyone that had to help their grade-school child help learn fractions will attest to that.

Is it the top number that's the denominator? Why can't they just call them the top number and bottom number?

We all need to brush up on those math skills so I am here to help. I got three word problems at different grades of difficulty. The first 'rackers that can post a correct answer I will award with a Pirate hat that is left over from the defunct 13 line hook challenge (I got loads of 'em).

1) Grade school
Why was the math book sad?

2) High school
Why can't the circle ever win an arguement with the triangle?

3) Advanced algebra (for my friend from Ohio)
If you were to meet a pessimistic Patrick James, how could you be sure he wasn't real?

You really got to know your math to get that last one. The one that can answer that one gets the pirate ship.
 


Posted by sjsampson (Member # 8075) on :
 
1) It has a lot of problems.

2) Hmmm. Not sure.

3) Take his square root. You could also divide him by zero.
 


Posted by snapper (Member # 7299) on :
 
quote:
1) It has a lot of problems.

First hat gone!


quote:
3) Take his square root. You could also divide him by zero.

Wrong, but nice effort. Patrick James' roots are square? Must really hurt to pluck them gray hairs.

[This message has been edited by snapper (edited March 28, 2009).]
 


Posted by philocinemas (Member # 8108) on :
 
quote:
2) High school
Why can't the circle ever win an arguement with the triangle?


...because he misses all the main points and keeps going around the subject. Or maybe he can't follow the triangle's line of thought.


 


Posted by Kitti (Member # 7277) on :
 
quote:
3) Take his square root. You could also divide him by zero.

Alas, you don't have to be rational to be real.

My literal answer:

3) Because Patrick James cannot be constructed as the convergence of a sequence of rational numbers (regardless of his own rationality).

My attempt in keeping with snapper's game (and if you get this, you ARE a math dork):

3) Because the real numbers aren't his Field.

[This message has been edited by Kitti (edited March 29, 2009).]

[This message has been edited by Kitti (edited March 29, 2009).]
 


Posted by snapper (Member # 7299) on :
 
Philo is close enough. Here is a hat to go with that collection of yours! Real answer...

because the circle never had a point

I like your answers, Kitti, a true math dork. A hat for you because I like how you think. The real answer is even dorkier.

3) If you were to meet a pessimistic Patrick James, how could you be sure he wasn't real?

because negative squares are imaginary

Now I need to go hide before PJ beats this Michigan man like its the fourth saturday of November.
 


Posted by Patrick James (Member # 7847) on :
 
Haha, just found this thread.

Being the math genious I am I wa a little disappointed that none of my answeres were right.

1. The math book was sad because it would never amount to anything. (lame I know, but all I could come up with.)

2. The circle can't ever win an argument with the triangle because its arguments are cicrlular and the triangle is so good at coming to a point.

3. If you were to meet a pessimistic Patrick James, how could you be sure he wasn't real? All I could think of here was a joke. Rene Descartes walks into a bar. The bartender walks up to him and says, “Would you care for a drink?” Descartes replied, “I think not.” and disappears.

Anyway, Descartes was wrong. If cogitation were a prerequsite to existence there would be no population problem.

Starting with Michigan(raspberry). And I don't have grey hairs! Go OSU!

P.S. Kitti(warning dirty joke ahead.), Patrick James may not be able to be constructed by the convergence of a sequence of rational numbers (regardless of his own rationality). But he may be constructed by the convergance of two rational people--or irrational ones, if you prefer.


 


Posted by extrinsic (Member # 8019) on :
 
Alternative answer to number 2;

A triangle has the angles cornered.
 




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