A Mathematical Limerick
As I said, math was never my subject. It's not surprising then, that in organizing various areas of our lives according to school classes, math seemed to get left out. However, it doesn't seem right to leave it out altogether since, "The Three 'R's," just doesn't work without 'rithmetic.
Therefore, in a calculated effort to amuse, we present you with our favorite mathematical joke. Evaluate the following formula carefully and see if you can read it as a limerick — with the correct rhyming and meter and everything. (And yes, the algebra is correct. I checked it on my computer!)
An amusing formula we first learned from our good friend Dave Winkler
A dozen, a gross, and a score,
Plus three times the square root of four,
Divided by seven,
Plus five times eleven,
Is nine squared and not a bit more.
Dave's formula expressed as a limerick
If you think you've got it — or if it's just caused you to pull out the last of your hair — you can click on the formula to check your work against the english version. And if you just can't believe it's really that simple, just click the solution to try again.