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** It's also difficult in Chinese, but for a completely different reason: Chinese does not have all-purpose words for "yes" and "no," instead attaching positive or negative modifiers to the verb in question. If someone asks you even a single-mode question, like "Have you eaten" ("chī fàn le?"), you have to say, "bù chī" (have not eaten) or "chī le" (already ate). ...Okay, people will still throw around "bù" without an attached verb, same as how English speakers will say "Went to the store" with only an implied subject, but it's still a bit harder to be ambiguous.
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** Same deal in {{Earthbound}}. Someone asks you to name a Beatles song - XXXterday. If you say Yes, that is technically correct. If you say No, the asker answers that Noterday is just wrong.
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* A commercial for Lycia begins with a voiceover along the lines of: "I was wondering why I had muscle pain, so I asked my doctor. It turns out, connected to muscles are nerves which send pain messages to the brain."
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* A commercial for Lycia Lyrica begins with a voiceover along the lines of: "I was wondering why I had muscle pain, so I asked my doctor. It turns out, connected to muscles are nerves which send pain messages to the brain."
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** More literally: "42". [[YouShouldKnowThisAlready For those that don't know about this]], an alien race constructs a massive supercomputer in order to learn "The answer to the question of Life, the Universe, and Everything". The computer, after [[strike: centuries]] seven and a half million years of computation, comes back with "42". When asked about this, the computer responds that it is able to figure out the answer, but they need another computer to calculate [[Series/{{Jeopardy}} what the ''question'' is.]] The programmers, afraid of the mob's reaction to this nonsense, just make up the question: "[[ShoutOut How many roads]] [[BobDylan must a man walk down?]]"
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** More literally: "42". [[YouShouldKnowThisAlready For those that don't know about this]], an alien race constructs a massive supercomputer in order to learn "The answer to the question of Life, the Universe, and Everything". The computer, after [[strike: centuries]] seven and a half million years of computation, comes back with "42". When asked about this, the computer responds that it is able to figure out the answer, but they need another computer to calculate [[Series/{{Jeopardy}} what the ''question'' question is.]] The programmers, afraid of the mob's reaction to this nonsense, just make up the question: "[[ShoutOut How many roads]] [[BobDylan must a man walk down?]]"
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* Jarlaxle the drow from R.A.Salvatore's series of Drizzt books is so fond of the Mathematician's Answer that "Yes" might as well be his catch phrase.
* ''{{Animorphs}}'' After being told by the resident friendly alien member of the team that they have all been dragged through a fracture in space-time continuum
* ''{{Animorphs}}'' After being told by the resident friendly alien member of the team that they have all been dragged through a fracture in space-time continuum
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* Jarlaxle the drow from R.A. Salvatore's series of Drizzt books is so fond of the Mathematician's Answer that "Yes" might as well be his catch phrase.
*''{{Animorphs}}'' ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' After being told by the resident friendly alien member of the team that they have all been dragged through a fracture in space-time continuum
*
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* In Isaac Asimov's Black Widowers story ''Truth to Tell'' the monthly guest, a man who never tells a lie, is suspected of a crime which it seems only he could have committed, but he continually denies it, saying: "I didn't take the cash or the bonds." However the waiter, Henry, asks him: [[spoiler: "Did you take the cash ''and'' the bonds?" The guest declines to answer and leaves.]]
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* In Isaac Asimov's IsaacAsimov's Black Widowers story ''Truth to Tell'' the monthly guest, a man who never tells a lie, is suspected of a crime which it seems only he could have committed, but he continually denies it, saying: "I didn't take the cash or the bonds." However the waiter, Henry, asks him: [[spoiler: "Did you take the cash ''and'' the bonds?" The guest declines to answer and leaves.]]
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** The same quandry is inverted in Simon R. Green's ''Wolf in the Fold'', when Hawk and Fisher question suspects about the two murders under a truthspell. All the suspects can correctly answer "No" when asked if they murdered Victim #1 and Victim #2, because the two deaths were the handiwork of different killers.
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** The same quandry quandary is inverted in Simon R. Green's ''Wolf in the Fold'', when Hawk and Fisher question suspects about the two murders under a truthspell. All the suspects can correctly answer "No" when asked if they murdered Victim #1 and Victim #2, because the two deaths were the handiwork of different killers.
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*** Actually, in logic we have the "exclusive or", which (as the name implies) excludes "and".
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*** Actually, in logic we have the "exclusive or", which (as the name implies) excludes "and". But exclusive or is denoted differently to inclusive or, obviously, and they didn't ask "Did you take the cash XOR the bonds?".
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* ''How Rude!'', an etiquette book aimed at teenagers, contains an anecdote from the author. He attempted to call a friend of his and the friend's five-year-old son answered. When the author asked if his daddy was there, the boy replied, "Yes."
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--> '''Paris:''' *thinking noises* ...all of them.
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--> '''Paris:''' *thinking noises* ...[[HowManyAllOfThem all of them.them]].
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* In an episode of ''PoliceSquad'', a woman holds a cigarette out to Frank and says "cigarette?" The implication is that she's asking if he wants one, but Frank answers "Yes, it is."
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* In an episode of An RunningGag in ''PoliceSquad'', a woman where Frank holds a cigarette out to Frank a witness or suspect and says asks "cigarette?" The implication is that she's he's asking if he wants they want one, but Frank answers they always answer "Yes, I know," or "Yes, it is.""
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--> '''C-3P0:''' Sir! Sir! Might I inquire what's going on?
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--> '''C-3P0:''' Sir! Sir! Excuse me, sir. Might I inquire what's going on?
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It\'s still a Mathematicians Answer...
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'''Yūko:''' Mokona is Mokona. You would count them one Mokona, two Mokona [[hottip:*:[[DontExplainTheJoke Note that]] this is only a Mathematician's Answer [[TooLongDidntDub in English]]. In Japanese, Yuuko is referring specifically to the counting suffix used for Mokona, a grammatical construct unknown in English (think "one-(something)", where (something) is a word that refers to a class of nouns, like "round things", "minutes", "people", [[CaptainObvious or "Mokona"]]). ]] and then you stop; [[BlatantLies there's only two.]]\\
'''Watanuki:''' [[LampshadeHanging That's supposed to be an answer?!]]
'''Watanuki:''' [[LampshadeHanging That's supposed to be an answer?!]]
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'''Yūko:''' Mokona is Mokona. You would Incidentally, you count them one Mokona, two Mokona [[hottip:*:[[DontExplainTheJoke Note that]] this is only a Mathematician's Answer [[TooLongDidntDub in English]]. In Japanese, Yuuko is referring specifically to the counting suffix used for Mokona, a grammatical construct unknown in English (think "one-(something)", where (something) is a word that refers to a class of nouns, like "round things", "minutes", "people", [[CaptainObvious or "Mokona"]]). ]] and then you stop; [[BlatantLies there's only two.]]\\
"ichi-mokona," "[[MythologyGag ni-mokona]]."\\
'''Watanuki:''' [[LampshadeHanging That'ssupposed to be not an answer?!]]answer!]]
'''Watanuki:''' [[LampshadeHanging That's
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* A commercial for Grey Poupon mustard has one Rolls-Royce pull up to another, and they both roll down their windows. One man asks, "Pardon me, do you have any Grey Poupon?" The other replies, "But of course!" - then signals his chauffeur to drive away.
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Added an American Gods example. thought it was a better fit here than cluttering up the book\'s page.
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* [[AmericanGods Shadow]] gets one from Whiskey Jack, and then promptly [[LampshadeHanging calls him on it]].
-->'''Shadow:''' Where are we? Am I on the tree? [[spoiler: Am I dead?]] Am I here? I thought everything was finished. What's real?
-->'''Whiskey Jack:''' Yes.
-->'''Shadow:''' ''Yes?'' What kind of an answer is ''Yes''?
-->'''Whiskey Jack:''' It's a good answer. True answer too.
-->'''Shadow:''' Where are we? Am I on the tree? [[spoiler: Am I dead?]] Am I here? I thought everything was finished. What's real?
-->'''Whiskey Jack:''' Yes.
-->'''Shadow:''' ''Yes?'' What kind of an answer is ''Yes''?
-->'''Whiskey Jack:''' It's a good answer. True answer too.
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*** Actually, the "question" (or "answer", considering the nature of ''Jeopardy!'') was just a list of names. The category was "Movies". While the category ''technically'' could have disqualified Cliff's response, the question/answer on the board in no way prompted the contestants for any particular response beyond something starting with "Who are...?"
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That\'s nice.
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* Exchange between myself and a former manager:
-->'''Me''': What is that?
-->'''Manager''': A demonstrative pronoun.
-->'''Me''': What is that?
-->'''Manager''': A demonstrative pronoun.
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* Exchange between myself and a former manager:
-->'''Me''': What is that?
-->'''Manager''': A demonstrative pronoun.
-->'''Me''': What is that?
-->'''Manager''': A demonstrative pronoun.
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* In ''{{Eragon}}'', Brom and the titular character's first meeting with the witch Angela involves Mathematician answers as Brom successively asks her ''if'' she knows where the house of the person he is looking for is, and then ''would'' she tell him where it is, both her answers being in the affirmative.
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* In ''{{Eragon}}'', Brom and the titular character's first meeting with the witch Angela involves Mathematician answers as Brom successively asks her ''if'' she knows where the house of the person he is looking for is, and then ''would'' she tell him where it is, both her answers being in the affirmative. Brom and Eragon then stand there waiting until she looks up and tells them that, yes, she knows where the house is, and yes, she will tell them where it is, but they never directly asked her which house was the one they were looking for.
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*** Which is why outside of the U.S. they are known as a musk mellon. A proper cantaloupe as recognized by the rest of the world can't even be found in the U.S.
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** Interestingly enough, this can still lead to a Mathematician's Answer. '''Q:''' "Is it black XOR white?" '''Yes:''' it's either one or the other. '''No:''' it's either both or neither.
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* RobinWilliams in his stand-up act when talking about calling tech support. When finally reaching a real person (who is Indian, of course), this exchange takes place:
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* RobinWilliams in his stand-up act when talking about calling tech support. When finally reaching a real person (who is Indian, [[OperatorFromIndia Indian]], of course), this exchange takes place:
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-->''Gilbert:'' Forward!
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--> '''Myrth''': "Why do you want to know, if you don't mind me asking?"
--> '''You''': "No, I don't mind at all that you're asking."
--> '''Myrth''': Well?
--> '''You''': ...
--> '''Myrth''': Aren't you going to answer?
--> '''You''': ...
--> '''Myrth''': Out with it, man/woman!
--> '''You''': I said I didn't mind you asking, not that I'd answer.
--> '''You''': "No, I don't mind at all that you're asking."
--> '''Myrth''': Well?
--> '''You''': ...
--> '''Myrth''': Aren't you going to answer?
--> '''You''': ...
--> '''Myrth''': Out with it, man/woman!
--> '''You''': I said I didn't mind you asking, not that I'd answer.
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--> '''Myrth''': '''Myrth:''' "Why do you want to know, if you don't mind me asking?"
-->'''You''': '''You:''' "No, I don't mind at all that you're asking."
-->'''Myrth''': '''Myrth:''' Well?
-->'''You''': ...
'''You:''' ...
-->'''Myrth''': '''Myrth:''' Aren't you going to answer?
-->'''You''': ...
'''You:''' ...
-->'''Myrth''': '''Myrth:''' Out with it, man/woman!
-->'''You''': '''You:''' I said I didn't mind you asking, not that I'd answer.
-->
-->
-->
-->
-->
-->
-->
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-->'''Manager''': Ever been arrested?
-->'''Isaac''': Once.
-->'''Manager''': What for?
-->'''Isaac''': Breaking the law.
-->'''Isaac''': Once.
-->'''Manager''': What for?
-->'''Isaac''': Breaking the law.
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-->'''Butarega''': King Vegeta, I have urgent news!\\
'''King Vegeta''': Speak, Butarega.\\
'''Butarega''': Bardock has gone absolutely mad, Sire!\\
'''Bardock''': FREEZA!!\\
'''King Vegeta''': What's all the commotion about?\\
'''Butarega''': He's been telling everyone that Freeza plans to destroy Vegeta!\\
'''King Vegeta''': Wait, my son, the planet, or me?\\
'''Butarega''': ...Yes.\\
'''King Vegeta''': Speak, Butarega.\\
'''Butarega''': Bardock has gone absolutely mad, Sire!\\
'''Bardock''': FREEZA!!\\
'''King Vegeta''': What's all the commotion about?\\
'''Butarega''': He's been telling everyone that Freeza plans to destroy Vegeta!\\
'''King Vegeta''': Wait, my son, the planet, or me?\\
'''Butarega''': ...Yes.\\
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'''King
'''King
'''King
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-->'''Adam West''': will you answer one question for me?.
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-->'''Adam West''': will Will you answer one question for me?.
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* ''RockyAndBullwinkle'' provides us with another example. Boris in one of his {{Paper Thin Disguise}}s needs Bullwinkle to go to a particular location. His scheme is to have Bullwinkle win a trip in a contest. The trick, then, is to get the [[TheDitz exceedingly dense]] Bullwinkle to actually give the correct answer to a question, which he finally accomplishes with this exchange.
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* ''RockyAndBullwinkle'' provides us with another example. Boris Boris, in one of his {{Paper Thin Disguise}}s Disguise}}s, needs Bullwinkle to go to a particular location. His scheme is to have Bullwinkle win a trip in a contest. The trick, then, is to get the [[TheDitz exceedingly dense]] Bullwinkle to actually give the correct answer to a question, which he finally accomplishes with this exchange.
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* [[http://verydemotivational.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/demotivational-posters-yes1.jpg What holiday is]] NightmareBeforeChristmas about?
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* Or this joke (when sitting at the table): "Can I have the butter?" "Yes." "Can you pass it to me?" "Yes." (beat) "What, now?"
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* [[TheSpoonyExperiment Spoony's]] take on the changes to Yuna between FinalFantasyX and {{Final Fantasy X-2}}.
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* [[TheSpoonyExperiment Spoony's]] take on the changes to Yuna between FinalFantasyX VideoGame/FinalFantasyX and {{Final [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2 Final Fantasy X-2}}.X-2]].
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* An engineer, a physicist, and a mathematician are on a train in Scotland. They see a black sheep, and the following exchange ensues:
-->'''Engineer''': Look, sheep in Scotland are black.
-->'''Physicist''': Well, all we know for sure is that some sheep in Scotland are black.
-->'''Mathematician''': All we can be sure of is that, in Scotland, there is at least one sheep that is black on one side.
-->'''Engineer''': Look, sheep in Scotland are black.
-->'''Physicist''': Well, all we know for sure is that some sheep in Scotland are black.
-->'''Mathematician''': All we can be sure of is that, in Scotland, there is at least one sheep that is black on one side.
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* ''FromDuskTillDawn'':
-->'''Kate:''' Where are we going?
-->'''Richie:''' Mexico.
-->'''Kate:''' What's in Mexico?
-->'''Richie:''' Mexicans.
-->'''Kate:''' Where are we going?
-->'''Richie:''' Mexico.
-->'''Kate:''' What's in Mexico?
-->'''Richie:''' Mexicans.
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[[redirect:{{ptitle3zaap0y7ym6o}}]]
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%%Please do not change or remove without starting a new thread.
[[quoteright:308:[[HeyArnold http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/arnoldpass_2707.png]]]]
->'''Monty:''' Dad, is there a word to describe answers that are ''completely correct'' but ''entirely useless'' under the circumstances? \\
'''Prof. Jones:''' Yes, yes there is.
-->-- ''IrregularWebcomic''
If you ask someone a question, and he gives you an entirely accurate answer that is of no use whatsoever, he has just given you a Mathematician's Answer.
A common form of giving a MathematiciansAnswer is to fully evaluate the logic of the question and give a logically correct answer. Such a response may prove confusing for someone who interpreted what they said colloquially.
Examples include questions involving "can you ...?" as this is colloquially a request to do something, but it literally means "are you able to" do something. Another common form is when a character is asked "Is it A or B?" they will respond, "Yes," assuming at least one of A or B is true, though occasionally the connotation of this one is that the responder does not know the answer or considers both answers correct. This crops up a lot in RealLife, especially in the world of computers.
Can be used by characters for reasons ranging from snarky humor to intentional obfuscation to being extremely LiteralMinded. AI and other {{literal genie}}s are very likely to fall into the last category.
Can overlap with ShapedLikeItself when the question is seeking a description, and with CaptainObvious, as these answers tend to be self-evident for anyone with a brain. Usually doubles as a CrypticallyUnhelpfulAnswer, when the "mathematician" is deliberately trying to confound the questioner. Compare NonAnswer, which is a vague "answer" which does not answer the question at all. Mildly related to WhatsAHenway and NotActuallyTheUltimateQuestion. And don't forget that the person giving the Mathematician's Answer is [[{{Futurama}} "technically correct ... the best kind of correct."]]
HowManyAllOfThem is a subtrope that's its own StockPhrase. See also WhatsAHenway. Contrast ImpliedAnswer when the question isn't answered at all, and the meaning is quite clear.
----
!!'''Examples'''
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Advertising]]
* A commercial for Lycia begins with a voiceover along the lines of: "I was wondering why I had muscle pain, so I asked my doctor. It turns out, connected to muscles are nerves which send pain messages to the brain."
** Also a CaptainObvious moment. "Nerves send pain messages to the brain?! [[SarcasmMode Noooo]]!"
* A commercial for Budweiser (or Miller Draft) had a guy describe something as beautiful, refreshing, etc. as he was grabbing a beer near a woman. The woman asks if he was describing the beer, or her, his reply is "Yes."
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* ''{{xxxHolic}}'' seems to be a fan of these.
** From episode one.
-->'''Mokona:''' *yawn* I slept well.\\
'''Watanuki:''' What were you sleeping in there for anyway?\\
'''Mokona:''' Uh... for about three years, I guess.\\
'''Watanuki:''' That's not what I meant.
** And also from a few moments later.
-->'''Watanuki:''' This is your idea of a party guest? What the heck is a Mokona?\\
'''Yūko:''' Mokona is Mokona. You would count them one Mokona, two Mokona [[hottip:*:[[DontExplainTheJoke Note that]] this is only a Mathematician's Answer [[TooLongDidntDub in English]]. In Japanese, Yuuko is referring specifically to the counting suffix used for Mokona, a grammatical construct unknown in English (think "one-(something)", where (something) is a word that refers to a class of nouns, like "round things", "minutes", "people", [[CaptainObvious or "Mokona"]]). ]] and then you stop; [[BlatantLies there's only two.]]\\
'''Watanuki:''' [[LampshadeHanging That's supposed to be an answer?!]]
* ''{{Rurouni Kenshin}}'' has one of these during the Jinchu Arc:
-->'''Chou:''' So who are we goin' after? The Boss? Or Battousai? \\
'''Saito:''' Yes.
* KenichiTheMightiestDisciple example!
--> '''Random guy on the beach:''' Hey, beautiful, where are you from?
--> '''[[NoSocialSkills Shigure]]:''' My ... home.
* From the english dub of LupinIII:
--> '''Lupin:''' Which direction do you think the helicopter will be coming from?
--> '''Goemon:''' Up.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Comic Books]]
* From [[XForce X-Statix]]: "He's... "connecting" in some way to what he's lost." "Is that a good or bad thing?" "Yes."
* {{Lucky Luke}}'s horse can speak, but seeing as it's a horse, even Lucky Luke is baffled when he sees it on the riverbank, fishing.
--> '''Lucky Luke:''' How did you get the bait on the hook?
--> '''Jolly Jumper:''' With disgust, just like everybody else.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Fanfiction]]
* Of all people, Kyon's sister in ''Fanfic/KyonBigDamnHero''. Unsurprisingly, Yuki joins in later, when she and Haruhi forcibly undress Kyon. Yuki seems to do this fairly often.
-->'''Kyon:''' "So ''if'' I tell you, that means you can't go. Understand?"
-->'''Kyon's sister:''' "Okay!" she cheered. "So, don't tell me! That means I can (it's not forbidden) go!"
-->'''Kyon:''' He blinked at her. "That's not what--"
--> '''Kyon''': Y...Yuki! Kanae-chan! Come on! H...help me- Waaah! Help me out!
--> '''Yuki''': I am helping.
--> '''Kyon''' (upon waking up to find Yuki waking up in his bed): "Um... Good morning?"
--> '''Yuki''': "Yes."
* Done nicely in [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6209921/1/Harry_Dresden_Comedic_Shorts this]] fanfic of TheDresdenFiles.
-->'''Murphy:''' Okay, first case. We have several murders to get to.
-->'''Dresden''': Solving or causing?
-->'''Murphy''': (Growling) Yes.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Film]]
* A math related one from ''Little Man Tate'':
--> '''Elementary School Math Teacher:''' "How Many Numbers between 1 and 10 are divisible by 2?"
--> '''Tate:''' [[AllOfThem "All Of Them"]].
* ''ReturnOfTheJedi'': "R2! What are you doing here?... Well, I can ''see'' you're serving drinks..."
* ''TheEmpireStrikesBack'':
--> '''C-3P0:''' Sir! Sir! Might I inquire what's going on?
--> '''Han Solo:''' Why not?
* ''GrossePointeBlank'': "I'm doin' a double shift, what's it look like?"
* ''{{Airplane}}'': Asked for his name and position, Ted answers, "Ted Stryker. I'm sitting down, facing forward, but that's not important right now."
** "A question? What is it?" "It's an interrogative statement, used to obtain information. But that's not important right now."
** "The cockpit? What is it?" "It's a room at the front of the plane where the pilot sits. But that's not important right now"
** "The hospital? What is it?" "It's a building full of doctors and sick people. But that's not important right now."
** [[RunningGag "Headquarters? What is it?" "It's a big building where generals meet. But that's not important right now."]]
* ''{{Ghostbusters}}:'' "Where do these stairs go?"... "They go up."
* In ''ItsAWonderfulLife'', George asks the pregnant Mary, "Is it a boy or a girl?" Mary just nods enthusiastically.
* In the 2006 ''[[ThePinkPanther Pink Panther]]'' movie starring Steve Martin, a reporter asks Inspector Clouseau if they (the police) know if the killer is a man or a woman. Clouseau's answer is: "Well of course I know that! What else is there, a kitten?"
** Also, when he quotes someone about politics, Yvette asks him if he said it, meaning if he is the original author of he quote. Clouseau, of course, takes the question literally and, after confusingly looking around for someone else, answers "yes."
** In ''The return of the Pink Panther'', Clouseau doesn't know the location of his next destination, so he asks a person on the street "Do you know where X is?". The person answers "Yes" and keeps walking.
** In ''The Pink Panther Strikes Again,'' Clouseau enters an inn, see a dog, he asks the innkeeper if his dog bites. The answer he gets is technically correct...
-->'''Clouseau''': I thought you said he does not bite!
-->'''Innkeeper''': That is not my dog.
* A rhetorical version from ''TheAdventuresOfBuckarooBanzaiAcrossTheEighthDimension'': "Remember, no matter where you go: there you are."
* ''ApocalypseNow''
-->'''Willard''': Do you know who's in command here?
-->'''Roach''': Yeah. ''[Walks off]''
* ''CasinoRoyale''
-->'''Vesper:''' How was your lamb?
-->'''Bond:''' Skewered.
* A particularly {{Egregious}} example from ''LuckyNumberSlevin'':
-->'''Slevin:''' I'm gonna say the same thing any man with two penises says when his tailor asks him if he dresses to the right or left.
-->'''Lindsey:''' What's that?
-->''[cuts to The Boss's penthouse]''
-->'''Slevin:''' Yes.
* ''StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan'': Although in this case Kirk quickly makes it obvious that he's just joking around.
--> '''Saavik:''' May I ask how you dealt with the test?
--> '''Kirk:''' You may ask.
* The CGI film ''BeeMovie'' has a scene between a human woman and a talking bee:
-->'''Vanessa''': How did you learn to do that?\\
'''Barry B. Benson''': Do what?\\
'''Vanessa''': That, that... the talking thing?\\
'''Barry B. Benson''': Same way you did, I guess. Mama, dada, honey, you pick it up.
* ''{{V for Vendetta}}'':
-->'''Evey Hammond''': Who are you?
-->'''V''': Who? Who is but the form following the function of what and what I am is a man in a mask.
** He continues in the same vein when explaining why he gave that answer.
-->'''Evey:''' Well I can see that.
-->''V:'' Of course you can. I'm not questioning your powers of observation. I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.
* "AHardDaysNight": "How did you find America?" "Turn left at Greenland."
** "Has success changed your life?" "Yes."
** "Do you think these haircuts have come to stay?" "Well this one has, y'know, stuck on good and proper now."
** "What do you call that hairstyle you're wearing?" "Arthur."
** "What do you call that collar?" "A collar."
* ''[[{{Film/TheATeam}} The A-Team]]'':
-->'''Sosa:''' Gilbert, you've either deliberately aided and abetted a federal fugitive's escape, or you're the single dumbest human being I've ever come into contact with. Would you like to know which way I'm leaning?
-->''Gilbert:'' Forward!
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Literature]]
* In ''{{Eragon}}'', Brom and the titular character's first meeting with the witch Angela involves Mathematician answers as Brom successively asks her ''if'' she knows where the house of the person he is looking for is, and then ''would'' she tell him where it is, both her answers being in the affirmative.
* In ''{{Halo}}: TheFallOfReach'', during a test of the MJOLNIR armor with shields Cortana asked the Master Chief what his plan was for dealing with a squad of ODST marines. He responded, "I'm going to finish counting to ten," because he had been instructed to do so.
* Raymond Smullyan collected these:
** General asks computer a two-part question: "1. Will the rocket reach the moon? 2. Will the rocket return to Earth?" Computer answers "yes." General asks, "Yes ''what''?" Computer answers "Yes, sir."
** "Where does this road go?" "It isn't going anywhere. It's just staying put."
** One Vermont farmer approaches another. "My horse is sick. What did you give your horse when it was sick?" "Hay and molasses." Two weeks later: "I gave my horse hay and molasses, and it died." "Yep, so did mine."
* From the {{Discworld}} novel ''Discworld/{{Hogfather}}'':
--> '''Susan''': Are those mountains real or some sort of shadows?
--> '''Death''': [[AC:yes]].
** Similarly, when the Senior Wrangler suggests that the mistletoe, while being genuinely symbolic, is only symbolic of mistletoe:
--->'''Archchancellor:''' That statement is either so deep it would take a lifetime to fully comprehend every particle of its meaning, or it is a load of absolute tosh. Which is it, I wonder?
--->'''Senior Wrangler:''' [desperately] It could be both.
--->'''Archchancellor:''' And that comment is either very perceptive, or very trite.
--->'''Senior Wrangler:''' It could be bo-
--->'''Archchancellor:''' Don't push it, Senior Wrangler.
** And earlier in ''Hogfather'':
--->'''Lord Downey''': Can I offer you a drink?
--->'''Auditor''': Yes ... we judge you capable of performing that action
** Susan again, in ''Discworld/ThiefOfTime'':
--->'''Susan''': Are you [[spoiler: Lobsang]] or are you [[spoiler: Jeremy]]?
--->'''[[spoiler: Lobsang/Jeremy]]''': Yes.
--->'''Susan''': Yes, I walked into that. Are you [[spoiler: Lobsang]] ''and'' are you [[spoiler: Jeremy]]?
--->'''[[spoiler: Lobsang/Jeremy]]''': Much closer. Yes.
** Rincewind and Eric, from [[strike: Faust]] [[Discworld/{{Eric}} Eric!]]
--->'''Rincewind''': There's a door.
--->'''Eric''': Where does it go?
--->'''Rincewind''': It stays where it is, I think.
** Yet another one, sort of, from Discworld/WitchesAbroad (paraphrased, without spoiling too much):
-->'''Granny Weatherwax''': Am I dying?
-->'''Death''':[[AC:yes]].
-->''{{Beat}}''
-->'''Granny Weatherwax''': But to you, everybody is dying, right? So you are not exactly being Mr. Helpful here.
-->'''Death''':[[AC:yes]]
** And another in WyrdSisters...
-->Demons were like genies or philosophy professors - if you didn't word things exactly right, they delighted in giving you absolutely accurate [...] answers.
** As mentioned in ''Discworld/Hogfather'', when questioned about the origins of life, the philosopher Didactylos set forth this theory:
--> Things just happened. What the hell?
** The real problem with Mathematician's Answers in Discworld is that they often AREN'T -- they're very accurate statements of the fact that, in a world where symbolism, belief, and narrative causality are literally physical laws of the universe, it is entirely possible for something to be two different and contradictory things simultaneously.
* ''TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy'': When Zaphod learns that Marvin is waiting for them in the car park at the Restaurant at the End of the Universe (and has been for several trillion years), he asks what he's doing there. Marvin's answer? Parking cars. What else would he be doing there?
** More literally: "42". [[YouShouldKnowThisAlready For those that don't know about this]], an alien race constructs a massive supercomputer in order to learn "The answer to the question of Life, the Universe, and Everything". The computer, after [[strike: centuries]] seven and a half million years of computation, comes back with "42". When asked about this, the computer responds that it is able to figure out the answer, but they need another computer to calculate [[Series/{{Jeopardy}} what the ''question'' is.]] The programmers, afraid of the mob's reaction to this nonsense, just make up the question: "[[ShoutOut How many roads]] [[BobDylan must a man walk down?]]"
** Arthur has one as well:
-->'''Arthur Dent''': You know, it's at times like this, when I'm stuck in a Vogon airlock with a man from Betelgeuse, about to die of asphyxiation in deep space, that I really wish I'd listened to what my mother told me when I was young.
-->'''Ford Prefect''': Why? What did she tell you?
-->'''Arthur Dent''': I don't know! I didn't listen!
* Jarlaxle the drow from R.A.Salvatore's series of Drizzt books is so fond of the Mathematician's Answer that "Yes" might as well be his catch phrase.
* ''{{Animorphs}}'' After being told by the resident friendly alien member of the team that they have all been dragged through a fracture in space-time continuum
-->'''Jake''': Did we go forward or back? Are we in the past or the future?
-->'''Ax''': Yes. It's definitely one of those two choices.
* Yet another of PeterDavid's favorite literature tricks to tweak the nose of higher-class people (especially Vulcans in his ''StarTrek'' novels): The high-class person asks, "May I ask where you're going?" The person answers, "Yes". It takes the Vulcan a second to comprehend.
* This is one of the things [[{{Dragaera}} Hawklords]] are known for. It's also why [[HitmanWithAHeart Vlad]] would have killed Daymar out of sheer annoyance if it wasn't for his invaluable psychic skills.
* The Angel, a character in Mike Resnick's ''SantiagoAMythOfTheFarFuture'' does it several times:
-->"How are you going to ...?"
-->"Efficiently."
-->"What did you cut him with?"
-->"Something sharp."
* Used by the Logician in the Ionesco play ''Rhinocéros''.
* In ''[[NightWatch The Last Watch]]'', when [[spoiler:Edgar]] uses a truth spell on Rustam, this exchange takes place:
-->'''[[spoiler:Edgar]]:''' How can I take the Crown of All Things?\\
'''Rustam:''' With your hands.
** Weirdly, this answer is wrong.
* ''{{Momo}}'' is leaning hard into the direction of being a smart ass.
--> ''"As far as I can remember... I've always been around."''
* In David Weber's ''{{Safehold}}'' series, Nimue/Merlin's AI assistant Owl persists in responding to her/his questions with literal answers, despite the manufacturer's assertion that it's supposed to learn to reply colloquially. It finally begins to show some improvements in the fourth book, ''A Mighty Fortress''.
* From ''[[PaladinOfShadows Choosers of the Slain]]'':
-->"Be careful what she teaches her," Adams said, without looking up. "You might get a very nasty surprise."\\
"Are you talking about Anastasia teaching Katya or the other way around?" Nielson asked, grinning.\\
"Yes."
* This is used to fight mind control in the ''MagicKingdomOfLandover'', when someone is forced to answer questions.
-->'''Ben:''' Where can I find the dragon?
-->'''Nightshade:''' Everywhere.
* In Isaac Asimov's Black Widowers story ''Truth to Tell'' the monthly guest, a man who never tells a lie, is suspected of a crime which it seems only he could have committed, but he continually denies it, saying: "I didn't take the cash or the bonds." However the waiter, Henry, asks him: [[spoiler: "Did you take the cash ''and'' the bonds?" The guest declines to answer and leaves.]]
** [[DidNotDoTheResearch Which is the opposite of the way it should be, since any mathematician can tell you that "x or y" includes the case of "x and y"]].
*** Actually, in logic we have the "exclusive or", which (as the name implies) excludes "and".
** The same quandry is inverted in Simon R. Green's ''Wolf in the Fold'', when Hawk and Fisher question suspects about the two murders under a truthspell. All the suspects can correctly answer "No" when asked if they murdered Victim #1 and Victim #2, because the two deaths were the handiwork of different killers.
* This exchange from ''{{A Storm of Swords}}'':
-->'''[[spoiler:Bran]]:''' Maybe we shouldn't stay here.
-->'''[[spoiler: Meera]]:''' By the well? Or in the Nightfort?
-->'''[[spoiler: Bran]]:''' Yes.
* SpikeMilligan put plenty of these in his war memoirs, AdolfHitlerMyPartInHisDownfall:
-->Waiter: Anything to drink?
-->Spike: Yes anything.
* An example where this is ''not'' played for laughs occurs in ''TheDresdenFiles'' novel ''Small Favor'', when Harry brings the injured {{Valkyrie}} Gard to [[KnightInShiningArmor Michael Carpenter's]] house for treatment. Michael's fellow Knight Sanya is there and is examining Gard, noting that she is more than human. He asks "The woman. What is she?" to which Harry responds "Injured." Sanya understands the implied rebuke immediately and apologizes.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* ''{{Mythbusters}}'': When Adam is taken to Jamie's secret location, this exchange:
-->'''Adam:''' Where are we?
-->'''Jamie:''' We're right here.
* ''{{Scrubs}}'':
-->'''Dr. Kelso:''' Would someone explain what that bird is doing in my hospital?
-->'''Janitor:''' Sanchez appears to be flying, sir. I've named him Sanchez.
* The [[SufficientlyAdvancedAliens Vorlons]] of ''{{Babylon 5}}'' love this trope.
-->'''Kosh:''' They are alone. They are a dying people. We should let them pass.
-->'''Sinclair:''' Who? The Narns or the Centauri?
-->'''Kosh:''' Yes.
** Everything that Kosh says is not exactly helpful:
--> '''Sheridan:''' ''"How do I know you're the same Vorlon? Inside that encounter suit, you could be anyone."''
--> '''Kosh:''' ''"I have always been here."''
--> '''Sheridan:''' ''"Oh yeah? You said that about me, too."''
--> '''Kosh:''' ''"Yes."''
--> '''Sheridan:''' ''"I really hate it when you do that."''
--> '''Kosh:''' ''"Good."''
** Sheridan even lampshades this.
--> '''Sheridan:''' ''"Well, as answers go, short, to the point, utterly useless and totally consistent with what I've come to expect from a Vorlon."''
*** In this case, Sheridan had asked what was in the random access hatch Kosh had led him to. Kosh's answer was "One moment of perfect beauty." As it turns out, this is a completely factual statement, though it makes no sense until you can see the context. This gets {{Lampshaded}} again in the same episode when Ivanova asks Sheridan what Kosh showed him. Sheridan responds "Beauty...in the dark." Ivanova remarks that Kosh's lessons must be working, because Sheridan is starting to talk like a Vorlon.
** The Drakh do the same in season 4: "Drakh? Is that your name or your species?" "Yes."
** JMichaelStraczynski himself has [[http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/guide/038.html used it on occasion.]] (warning: link contains spoilers) "Was Kosh's line about Sheridan going to Z'ha'dum a warning or a threat?" "Yes."
* The French-Canadian sitcom ''[[UnGarsUnFille Un Gars, Une Fille]]'' (A Guy and a Girl), has the titular Guy ask his girlfriend which of two wines she wants for supper. She answers "Yes." This prompts him to reply "When someone gives you a choice between two things, you can't answer with yes! If you're afraid of committing to a decision, do you want me to pick for you, or do you want me to leave choices up to you?" Her answer? "Yes! Yes Yes Yes!"
* ''StarTrek'' has come up with the Heisenberg compensator, allowing the transporter to get around the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. When asked how it works, Mike Okuda's response was '[It] works just fine, thank you.'
** On ''DeepSpace9'', Odo is asked by Lwaxana Troi if Odo is his first or last name. Yes, it is.
** In a later episode, we get to know that Odo is his first name. His second is Ital. (The Cardassian word ''Odo'ital'' means "Unknown Sample," which is [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin exactly what he was]] to the scientists who discovered him.)
*** Well, he ''was'' named on Bajor, where the Eastern name order is accepted, so it's still Mathematician's.
* ''{{Andromeda}}'':
-->'''Dylan Hunt:''' Are you dead or alive?
-->'''Trance Gemini:''' Yes.
** Given that Trance is [[spoiler:the avatar of a star]], this makes some sense.
* In British comedy The ''ITCrowd'', Roy runs into this trying to run tech support.
-->'''Roy:''' Is it a PC, or a Mac?
-->'''Judy:''' ...Yes!
* In ''Series/TheATeam'', an exchange between Hannibal and Murdock goes something like this:
-->'''Hannibal:''' How does that sound?
-->'''Murdock:''' Well, Colonel, it doesn't make much of a sound at all!
* ''BetterOffTed'' had a great one:
-->'''Lawyer:''' Could you describe your job?
-->'''Veronica:''' Yes.
-->'''Lawyer:''' ''How'' would you describe your job?
-->'''Veronica:''' Cleverly.
* ''That70sShow'' provides this example when 2 state troopers arrive at the Foreman house during a party:
-->'''State Trooper:''' Ma'am, are you the owner of this house?
-->'''Midge:''' No, I'm not.
-->'''State Trooper:''' Do you know the owners?
-->'''Midge:''' Yes, I do!
-->''{{Beat}}''
-->'''State Trooper:''' Could you '''get them''', please!?
* ''NightCourt'': Bull helps deliver a baby. Asks the exhausted mother, "What is it?", wanting to know the gender. Bull: "It's a ''baby''!"
* ''Series/DoctorWho'': from "The Big Bang."
-->'''Doctor:''' Are you married, River?
-->'''River Song:''' Are you asking?
-->'''Doctor:''' Yes.
-->'''River Song:''' Yes.
-->'''Doctor:''' No, hang on. Did you think I was asking you to marry me, or asking if you were married?
-->'''River Song:''' Yes.
-->'''Doctor:''' No, but was that yes, or yes?
-->'''River Song:''' Yes.
** From "The Two Doctors"
-->'''Doctor:''' I closed my respiratory passages as soon as I detected any danger.
-->'''Peri:''' Well, then how did you breathe?
-->'''Doctor:''' With difficulty.
** In "A Good Man Goes To War", we meet Madame Vashtra, a female Silurian in the late 1800s:
--->'''Vashtra''': JackTheRipper has taken his last victim.
--->'''Maid''': How did you find him?
--->'''Vashtra''': [[ImAHumanitarian Stringy, but tasty all the same. I won't be needing dinner.]]
* Given a serious purpose in an episode of ''TheWestWing'', when Oliver Babish is preparing C.J. to answer questions before Congress:
-->'''Babish:''' Do you know what time it is?\\
'''C.J.:''' It's five past noon.\\
'''Babish:''' I'd like you to get out of the habit of doing that.\\
'''C.J.:''' Doing what?\\
'''Babish:''' Answering more than was asked... Do you know what time it is?\\
''(C.J. stares at him silently for several moments)''\\
'''C.J.:''' Yes.
** Though also played for laughs when Will is attempting to obfuscate an angry general:
-->'''General:''' Are you rewriting the foreign policy section?\\
'''Will:''' Yes.\\
'''General:''' Dramatically?\\
'''Will:''' I like to think I have a certain flair...\\
* On ''JustShootMe'', when Elliot asks Dennis if he's licking stamps, Dennis answers sarcastically "I was, now I'm answering obvious questions." When a pretty model asks the same question, Dennis cordially responds "Why, yes I am."
* A guest of ''TheGoldenGirls'' tells the girls his wife has just had triplets. "What are they?" asks Dorothy. Rose answers, "That's when three babies are born at the same time."
* ''{{Lost}}'' provided a perfect example during [[spoiler: the flight to return to the island]]:
--> '''Jack''': How can you ''read''? [at a time like this]
--> '''Ben''': My mother taught me.
** Of course, he's lying as usual. [[spoiler: His mother died shortly after giving birth to him.]]
** Another one from when Richard Alpert gives the Time Jumping Locke a compass.
--> '''Locke:''' What's it do?
--> '''Alpert:''' It points North, John.
* ''TheBigBangTheory'': Sheldon Cooper is the living embodiment of this trope.
-->'''Leonard''': How was Nebraska?
-->'''Penny''': Well, better than North Dakota!
-->(no one laughs)
-->'''Penny''': I guess that joke's only funny in Nebraska.
-->'''Sheldon''': From the data at hand, you really can't draw that conclusion. All you can say with absolute certainty is that that joke is not funny here.
* ''TheMuppetShow'' had dancing rats in Christopher Reeve's dressing room.
-->'''Scooter''': Christopher Reeve, fifteen seconds to curtain, Christopher!
-->'''Christopher Reeve''': Oh thanks a lot, Scooter. Hey listen, can you tell me what these rats are doing in my dressing room?
-->'''Scooter''': I think it's the Foxtrot.
** In another Muppet Show example, there's Kermit's contribution to a string of "fly in the soup" jokes.
--->"So I ask the waiter, 'What's this fly doing in my alphabet soup?', and the waiter answers, 'Standing in for an apostrophe'."
* From ''TheYoungOnes'':
-->'''Rick''': Alright, what's the stair carpet doing on the fire?
-->'''Vyvyan''': Burning! What's it look like?!
** Also:
-->'''Neil''': (answering the phone): Someone's asking if we know the name of a short fat comedian.
-->'''Mike''': Yes.
-->'''Neil''': (into the phone): Yes we do! (puts the phone down).
** Another:
-->'''Vyvyan''': 11:05 and it's still raining. I wonder how hard it is.
-->'''Rick''': Not very hard, seeing as it's only made of water.
** my favorite from ''TheYoungOnes'': Mike walks in holding a fish. He says "What is this!?". Everyone else says "A FISH!" He realizes they are right and leaves . . . later in the episode he comes back with the fish, having figured out what he meant to ask. He says "What is this fish doing in my bed!?" Someone points out to him it is not in his bed, he is holding it in his hands. He realizes they are right and leaves . . . still later, he comes back, sure he has figured it out for good, with NOTHING in his hands. He says "What is this fish doing in my bed!?" Everyone says "WHAT FISH?"
** Still another:
--> '''Girl''': Oh, is that the time?
--> '''Mike''': No, that's a wristwatch. Time is abstract concept.
* And from the opening scene of the later Mayall/Edmondson/Planer/Elton series, FilthyRichAndCatflap:
-->'''Richie''': What are you doing in my bed?
-->'''Eddie''': Well I was sleeping. But now I'm talking to a git.
* In a parody of government officials avoiding giving direct answers, ''TheDailyShow'''s StephenColbert and SteveCarell had [[http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-october-15-2001/even-stevphen---secrets this exchange]]:
-->'''Stephen''': There are things I don't tell you.
-->'''Steve''': Oh, you tell me everything.
-->'''Stephen''': No, I don't.
-->'''Steve''': Like what?
-->'''Stephen''': I can't tell you.
-->'''Steve''': Well, does it involve you or me?
-->'''Stephen''': Yes.
-->'''Steve''': Who? Me, or you?
-->'''Stephen''': Steve, we've exhausted this topic.
** Another example: In 2003, when Prince Charles was alleged to have had a gay experience, Britain's strict libel and slander laws prevented anyone from commenting publicly on the charge. Colbert, doing a report on the scandal, was asked by Jon Stewart if he had learned any specifics. Colbert said, "Yes I have, Jon."
* In ''{{Smallville}}'', when Clark wants to talk to Lois about their relationship:
-->'''Clark''': Lois, what are we doing?
-->'''Lois''': I'm eating a maple donut and and you're kind of invading my personal space.
* In ''PartyDown'':
-->'''Ron''': What am I not hearing?
-->'''Roman''': I don't know... a squid? There are other options...
** To clarify, Roman is supposed to be DJ and is not at his post.
* In ''GetSmart'', One of Maxwell Smart's many catchphrases is a mathematician's answer. When asked how he did something, or how he planned to do something, he would respond: "With great difficulty."
* ''{{Cheers}}'': Cliff Claven attempted to use such an answer on ''Series/{{Jeopardy}}'' when asked to identify three actors by their original, non-stage names. His reply was "Who are three people who have never been in my kitchen?" Correct, but ...
** Another from ''Cheers'':
-->'''Frasier''': O death in life, the days that are no more -- who said that?
-->'''Woody''': Who said what?
-->'''Frasier''': "O death in life, the days that are no more."
-->'''Woody''': You did.
-->'''Frasier''': No, I mean, who said it first?
-->'''Woody''': You said it both times.
** Technically the Jeopardy answer is incorrect, since the question specifically asked for their names.
* In episode six of the first season of ''BoardwalkEmpire'', Margaret tells a friend in the Temperance League that a man has made her an ofter. The friend asks, "Financial? Domestic? Sexual?", and Margaret replies, "[[TheMistress Yes]]."
* In [[GoodLuckCharlie Charlie]] [[ShakeItUp Shakes It Up]], Deuce says he "has the situation under control", which prompts this:
-->'''Teddy:''' So when he says he has it under control, should we be relieved or worried?\\
'''Cece & Rocky:''' Yes.
* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
-->'''Tyrion:''' What sort of accent is that?
-->'''Shae:''' Foreign.
** And again:
-->'''Catelyn:''' Why [[spoiler:did you push my son from the window?]]
-->'''Jaime:''' [[spoiler:I hoped the fall would kill him.]]
* ''BarneyMiller'': Wojo is questioning a prostitute he has just arrested:
-->'''Wojo''': Any prior convictions?
-->'''Prostitute''': I used to think that cleanliness was next to godliness.
* In ''TheSarahConnorChronicles'', this is sometimes how [[RobotGirl Cameron]] responds to questions.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Newspaper Comics]]
* Similar to the Eddie Izzard example: in a 1960s ''{{Peanuts}}'' strip, Charlie Brown is trying to teach Sally to count. When shown a picture and asked "How many boats do you see?" she answers "All of them!"
* CalvinAndHobbes featured this exchange in a Sunday strip:
-->'''Miss Wormwood''': Calvin, pay attention! We're studying geography! [[WhereTheHellIsSpringfield Now, what state do you live in?]]
-->'''Calvin''': Denial.
-->'''Miss Wormwood''': ...I don't suppose I can argue with THAT.
* In an episode of ''PoliceSquad'', a woman holds a cigarette out to Frank and says "cigarette?" The implication is that she's asking if he wants one, but Frank answers "Yes, it is."
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Theater]]
* In ''TwelfthNight'', when Malvolio tells Olivia that a man wants to see her and will not be turned away:
-->'''Olivia''': What kind of man is he?\\
'''Malvolio''': Why, of mankind.\\
'''Olivia''': What ''manner'' of man?\\
'''Malvolio''': Of very ill-manner.
** Also, when Viola meets Feste:
--->'''Viola''': Save thee, friend, and thy music: dost thou live by thy tabour?\\
'''Feste''': No, sir, I live by the church.\\
'''Viola''': Art thou a churchman?\\
'''Feste''': No such matter, sir: I do live by the church; for I do live at my house, and my house doth stand by the church.
* In ''{{Chicago}}'':
--> She'd say, "What's your sister like?" I'd say, "men."
* In ''{{Hamlet}}'': Polonius asks what Hamlet is reading.
--> '''Hamlet''': Words, words, words.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''MassEffect2'' has this:
-->'''Shepard:''' You watch me or you watch organics?\\
'''[[spoiler: Legion:]]''' Yes.\\
'''Shepard:''' Which?\\
'''[[spoiler: Legion:]]''' Both.
* In ''VideoGame/DiscworldNoir'', when Lewton asks the butler if he can see Count von Uberwald, the ServileSnarker responds that he is in no position to judge how good Lewton's eyesight is.
* Sten of ''DragonAge'' loves to do this.
--> '''Warden:''' What were you doing in that cage?\\
'''Sten:''' Sitting.
* In ''DragonAgeII'', a sidequest has Hawke go fetch some pickaxes for a group of miners from a smith in town whose name they forgot.
-->'''Hawke:''' Are you the smith?\\
'''Smith:''' I'm ''a'' Smith.\\
'''Hawke:''' Is "Smith" your name or your profession?\\
'''Smith:''' Yep.
* Done beautifully in ''{{Arcanum}}: Of Steamwork and Magick Obscura'' when you try to get the location of the HiddenElfVillage Quintarra from Myrth the Elf. He repeatedly answers "In the Glimmering Forest" (said forest covers a third of Arcanum) and "In the trees" while being delighted at your frustration. When you give up, you turn it back on him:
--> '''Myrth''': "Why do you want to know, if you don't mind me asking?"
--> '''You''': "No, I don't mind at all that you're asking."
--> '''Myrth''': Well?
--> '''You''': ...
--> '''Myrth''': Aren't you going to answer?
--> '''You''': ...
--> '''Myrth''': Out with it, man/woman!
--> '''You''': I said I didn't mind you asking, not that I'd answer.
* The third generation {{Pokemon}} games will let you answer yes or no...to the question of where your character came from. If you answer "yes," he'll reply that he's never heard of Yes Town. If you say no, he'll say that you have to have come from somewhere.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Webcomics]]
* In ''Webcomic/OrderOfTheStick'', the Oracle's first [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0330.html answer]] to Roy's question "Where is Xykon?" was "In his throne room." Roy [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0329.html persuaded]] him to follow up with a more useful answer.
** A few strips later there is an even purer [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0331.html example]] - this time directed at Belkar.
** Vaarsuvius [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0749.html does this]] on Haley in another strip
** This is generally the sort of answer given when a question is asked about V's gender.
* On the ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'' forum, Tom Siddell gives this type of answer to the few questions [[ShrugOfGod he doesn't want to answer]].
-->'''Fan:''' What did the Court do with Sivo's body? ... Was Sivo laid to rest somewhere near the Court, or were his remains sent to an [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Orjak]] burial ground in the Bovec Mountains or elsewhere?\\
'''[[http://gunnerkrigg.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=40&page=12#3563 Tom Siddell]]:''' Eglamore dealt with the matter in the way agreed on between he and his friend.\\
...\\
'''Fan:''' I like how most characters have slightly different skin colors. But because they do, I'm not sure what to make of Zimmy's ashen color. Do you consider it to be in the expected range of variation for Gunnerkrigg characters (it does seem like the Headmaster's is quite similar), or is it intended to suggest something like unhealthiness or unnaturalness or even just griminess?\\
'''[[http://gunnerkrigg.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=614&page=6#21831 Tom Siddell]]:''' Yup.
* [[http://irregularwebcomic.net/1785.html This]] ''IrregularWebcomic'' strip.
* [[http://somethingpositive.net/sp10112005.shtml Yeah]], ''SomethingPositive'' did it, too.
-->"Davan, I'm going to force self-worth into you if I have to do it with a suppository."\\
"Be gentle, it'll be my first time."\\
"First time to be rectally violated or first time to feel good about yourself?"\\
"Yes."
** And [[http://www.somethingpositive.net/sp02152009.shtml again]].
-->"I honestly, truly hate you."\\
"Because I did that to your character, or because I thought to put it in a game before you?"\\
"Yes."
* The ''FlakyPastry'' [[http://flakypastry.runningwithpencils.com/comic.php?strip_id=100 100th strip spectacular]] showed Nitrine giving a slightly more helpful Mathematician's Answer.
* ''SluggyFreelance'': Kusari answers with one [[http://sluggy.com/comics/archives/daily/091216 here]].
* ''Able And Baker'' gives one of these [[http://www.jimburgessdesign.com/comics/index.php?comic=1239 here]].
-->"What's your honest opinion?"\\
"The one thing I can never be wrong about."
* [[http://www.terrorisland.net/strips/027.html This strip]] from the "spelling bee" arc in ''TerrorIsland'':
-->'''York''': Stephen, your word is "Camelopard."\\
'''Stephen''': Can you use it in a sentence?\\
'''York''': Almost certainly.\\
'''Stephen''': Sorry, ''will'' you use it in a sentence?\\
'''York''': Probably not. It isn't a very common word.
* From ''WapsiSquare'', Shelly gives one when asked where she [[http://wapsisquare.com/comic/onmyfront/ got her tattoo.]]
* In ''Webcomic/EightBitTheater'', having been [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice jumped on]] multiple times by both Red Mage and Dragoon, Black Mage gives us [[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2007/10/06/episode-903-awakenings/ this exchange:]]
-->'''Thief:''' Since when do you care about quests?\\
'''Black Mage:''' Since it's a convenient excuse to butcher Sir Hopsalot for revenge.\\
'''Dragoon:''' You mean Red Mage or me?\\
'''Black Mage: YES.'''
* ''Webcomic/TheTrenches'':
-->'''Manager''': Ever been arrested?
-->'''Isaac''': Once.
-->'''Manager''': What for?
-->'''Isaac''': Breaking the law.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Web Original]]
* During TheNostalgiaCritic's review of ''{{The Room}}'', [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment his future self takes him to the future]], giving us this snippet.
-->'''Critic:''' Wow. So what year is this?
-->'''[[LargeHam Future!Critic]]:''' The ''future''!
* The Frequently Given Answers page makes a [[http://homepage.ntlworld.com/jonathan.deboynepollard/FGA/questions-with-yes-or-no-answers.html serious attempt]] to inform unsuspecting answer-seekers how to avoid this trope, when asking questions of places frequented mainly by the overly literal.
* [[TheSpoonyExperiment Spoony's]] take on the changes to Yuna between FinalFantasyX and {{Final Fantasy X-2}}.
-->'''Spoony:''' Quite a long way from the traditional kimono she wore before, and her previous characterization as a kind, demure, religious care-giver with a tragic fate. But is this huge change in outfit and characterization because of the radical cultural shift in Spira because of the exposure of Yevon as a maniacal, genocidal cult run by the undead bent on world domination... or just because japanese perverts want to see some cleavage and her cute ass in boy's shorts? Good question... The answer is "Yes".
* In ''DragonBallAbridged'', there's a flashback where a Saiyan messenger tells King Vegeta that Frieza is planning to "destroy Vegeta." The King asks him to clarify if he means him, his son, or [[{{Egopolis}} the planet]], and the messenger says, "[[KillEmAll Yes]]"...before King Vegeta blasts him for being a smartass.
-->'''Butarega''': King Vegeta, I have urgent news!\\
'''King Vegeta''': Speak, Butarega.\\
'''Butarega''': Bardock has gone absolutely mad, Sire!\\
'''Bardock''': FREEZA!!\\
'''King Vegeta''': What's all the commotion about?\\
'''Butarega''': He's been telling everyone that Freeza plans to destroy Vegeta!\\
'''King Vegeta''': Wait, my son, the planet, or me?\\
'''Butarega''': ...Yes.\\
(Butarega is blasted by King Vegeta)\\
'''King Vegeta:''' Freakin' smartass.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''{{Jimmy Two-Shoes}}'' while [[CrapsackWorld Miseryville]] [[spoiler: is transformed into Smilesville]], Heloise somehow makes a house ''dance''.
-->'''Molotov''': Tell me how you did such thing.\\
'''Heloise''': It owes me a favor.
* [[TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy Fred Fredburger]] once resolved a court case by saying "yes" to an either-or question, resulting in both parties winning. Of course, [[TheFool this was not on purpose]].
* Family Guy has a very funny example by the mayor of Quahog Adam West:
-->'''Adam West''': will you answer one question for me?.
-->'''Medium''': Yes
-->'''Adam West''': Thank you so much.
** West himself loves doing this:
--> '''Tricia Takanawa''': Mr. West, do you have any words for our viewers?
--> '''Adam West''': Box, toaster, aluminum, maple syrup... no I take that one back. I'm gonna hold onto that one.
* In one episode of ''[[{{Peanuts}} The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show]]'', Charlie Brown regains consciousness on a sidewalk as two little kids watch. Charlie gets up and asks one of the kids, "Where am I?" One of the kids points to him and says, "Right there!"
* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': Series finale, Aang does his Avatar mojo and summons the spirit of Avatar Roku to advise him on whether he should kill Ozai. Roku's only advice is to "be decisive".
* ''RockyAndBullwinkle'' provides us with another example. Boris in one of his {{Paper Thin Disguise}}s needs Bullwinkle to go to a particular location. His scheme is to have Bullwinkle win a trip in a contest. The trick, then, is to get the [[TheDitz exceedingly dense]] Bullwinkle to actually give the correct answer to a question, which he finally accomplishes with this exchange.
-->'''Boris''': Do you know who is buried in Grant's tomb?
-->'''Bullwinkle''': No.
-->'''Boris''': That's right, you don't!
* In TotalDramaWorldTour while lost in a desert in Egypt:
-->'''Heather:''' Does anyone know where we are?
-->'''[[CloudCuckooLander Izzy:]]''' Plant Earth silly.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Other]]
* From an old Marvel Comics trading card:
--> '''Spider Man''': So your name is Logan. Is that your first or last name?
--> '''Wolverine''': Yup.
* A kōan of Zen Buddhism reads: A monk asked Zhàozhōu, "Does a dog have Buddha nature or not?" Zhàozhōu said, "Wú." This is a rare example in which the mathematician's answer is actually the most useful one. Wú essentially means "null", the point being that the monk asking the question is wrong to assume that the two dichotomous categories have any meaning.
** [[DontExplaintheJoke Wú is also the sound a dog makes.]]
** It's also a good answer to trick questions like "Have you stopped beating your wife?" Assuming you don't want to admit to having at any point beaten your wife.
* The EddieIzzard example so beloved of this page:
--> '''Paris:''' Dad, found [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen this woman]]!
--> '''Priam:''' Whoa, where's she from?
--> '''Paris:''' She's from Sparta!
--> '''Priam:''' ...Agh, you twit. Nip upstairs, see if there are any ships on the horizon.
--> '''Paris:''' Right. [''he does''] Uhh... Ships. Yeah, yeah, there's ships.
--> '''Priam:''' Well, how many?
--> '''Paris:''' *thinking noises* ...all of them.
* According to a joke, a helicopter is lost in the fog and the pilot shows a sign to the people in the nearby skyscraper, asking them where he is. The answer: "You are in a helicopter." Ironically, the answer does prove useful, since a skyscraper filled with people who all play by this trope can only be the Microsoft tech support building.
** The tech people have their own version of this joke:
-->'''Man in helicopter:''' Excuse me, where am I?
-->'''Passerby:''' You're in a helicopter about 20 ft. off the ground.
-->'''Man in helicopter:''' You must be in tech support.
-->'''Passerby:''' I am. How did you know?
-->'''Man in helicopter:''' Your answer was technically correct but completely useless.
-->'''Passerby:''' You must be a businessman.
-->'''Man in helicopter:''' I am. How did you know?
-->'''Passerby:''' Because you don't know where you are or where you need to go, but you expect me to be able to help. You're no worse off than you were before, but now you think it's my fault.
* The proper way to choose a cantaloupe has been described as: smell it, and if it smells like a cantaloupe, it is ripe enough. But it ''is'' a cantaloupe, so by definition, whatever it smells like, is what a cantaloupe smells like. Therefore, the only logical answer to "Does it smell like a cantaloupe?" is "Yes".
** The provided description actually implies that an unripe cantaloupe does not smell anything at all.
* RobinWilliams in his stand-up act when talking about calling tech support. When finally reaching a real person (who is Indian, of course), this exchange takes place:
-->'''Caller:''' (''overjoyed'') Where are you!?
-->'''Tech support assistant:''' (''heavy Indian accent'') I am on the phone with you.
* Back in about 2003, when Mark & Lard were still doing an afternoon show on BBC Radio 1, they used to run a phone-in quiz vaguely about music. Once, one of the questions was, "Can you name a member of Boyzone?" One of the callers jumped in with, "No." Technically, it was a correct answer...
* If you got here from InternetBackdraft, you're probably wondering why "[[{{Portal}} the cake is a lie]], but pi is always true". The point of the joke is that in many settings, especially computer programming, "false" is represented by the value 0 and "true" by any other value. Pi isn't zero, so it's true. A related joke quoted on Bash.org:
-->(morganj): 0 is false and 1 is true, correct?
-->(alec_eso): 1, morganj
-->(morganj): bastard.
* There's a joke that goes like this:
-->person A: ''What does your dad do for a living?''
-->person B: ''My dad's dead.''
-->person A: ''Well, what did he do before he died?''
-->person B: ''He sorta cluched at his chest and fell over.''
* Dara Ó Briain did a bit about this in one of his stand-up shows, when the audience response to the question "Do you know what Moore's Law is?" was 'yes'.
* This troper's English teacher once told a story about actress Mae West, who was famous for playing TheVamp. I can't find the story anywhere else on the internet, so it probably never actually happened, but it's too good not to include here:
-->'''Interviewer''': Do you like your men short, tall, fat, or thin?
-->'''Mae West''': [[ReallyGetsAround Yes]].
* There's an old joke about asking for directions that goes along these lines:
-->'''Driver''': Excuse me sir, but does this road go to London? (Or the name of any place)
-->'''Pedestrian''': This road, sir? No, sir. Tends to stay right where it is.
* There's another old joke, where a tourist lost in New York asks a street musician for directions:
-->'''Tourist''': Excuse me, sir. How do I get to Carnegie Hall?
-->'''Musician''': Practice, man! Practice!
* Then there's the old retort to "Can I ask you a question?" "You just did."
** During the trial arc of ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'', the company lawyer manages, through convoluted wordplay, to ask if he can ask a question without, in fact, asking a question. Petey, duly impressed with this feat, allows it.
* Not so much an example but a possibly interesting piece of related trivia: The "-A or B?; -Yes" joke works in most languages because it's rather typical that only one word is used for both meanings of "or". It doesn't work in languages where there are separate words for them, for example Finnish ("tai" / "vai". The former means "or" as in "is it either A or B?" and the latter as in "which one is it: A or B?")
** In fact, Finnish also has a third word for "or": "eli" meaning specifically "also known as" or "in other words". One wonders if the early Finns just really hated the "or" jokes.
* This is the reason some computer languages have the XOR keyword. "OR" allows for one or two options to be "true". "XOR" specifies that only one can be true.
* You've probably met the occasional smartass who thought they were funny by using these. "What's for lunch?" "Food."
* Teachers see a '''lot''' of these, from students who can't come up with a relevant answer to a test question and opt to try for a laugh instead.
[[/folder]]
->It's a third person singular neuter pronoun. [[BrickJoke But that's not important right now.]]
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