Markup View

Author: randomsurfer

Dec 21st 2012 at 1:30:43 AM

* In the TheatreOfTheAbsurd play ''The Lesson'' by EugeneIonesco a professor is flummoxed by a student who he has a hard time teaching basic math principles to.
-->Professor: Unless you can comprehend the primary elements, how do you expect to calculate mentally - and this is the least of the things that even an ordinary engineer must be able to do - how much, for example, are three billion seven hundred fifty-five million nine hundred ninety-eight thousand two hundred and fifity one, multiplied by five billion one hundred sixty-two million three hundred and three thousand five hundred and eight?
-->Student: ''very quickly'' That makes nineteen quintillion three hundred ninety quadrillion two trillion eight hundred forty four billion two hundred nineteen million one hundred sixty four thousand five hundred and eight.
-->Professor: ''astonished'': No.  I don't think so.  That must make nineteen quintillion three hundred ninety quadrillion two trillion eight hundred forty four billion two hundred nineteen million one hundred sixty four thousand five hundred and nine.
-->Student: No, five hundred and eight.
-->Professor ''more and more astonished, calculating mentally'': Yes...you are right...the result is indeed ''he mutters unintelligibly''...quintillion, quadrillion, trillion, billion, million,...''clearly'' one hundred and sixty four thousand five hundred and eight...''stupified'' But how did you know that, if you don't even know the principles of arithmetic reasoning?
-->Student: It's easy.  Not being able to rely on my reasoning, I've memorized all the products of all possible multiplications.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': A schoolyard patty cake chant when Marge & Homer consider sending Lisa to an expensive school for geniuses:
-->"Cross my heart and hope to die / Here's the digits that make pi / 3.1415926535897932384..." 
* According to the tv ads this seemed to be an important point in at least the first episode of the Kiefer Southerland show ''{{Series/Touch}}'', but not having watched it I don't really know.