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Conference rusure::math

Title:Mathematics at DEC
Moderator:RUSURE::EDP
Created:Mon Feb 03 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2083
Total number of notes:14613

189.0. "Theory and Practice" by MANANA::COLGATE () Wed Nov 28 1984 13:08

Here is a joke that may or may not belong here:

At a college fraternity (known to have very wild parties) lived three very 
bright young fellows: one a Computer Science major, one a Physics major, and
one Mathematics major. 

During the course of one evening a fire broke out, the first one awakened was
the Computer Science major who without thinking grabbed a garbage can, filled
it full with water and doused the fire out. Satisfied, he went back to bed to 
finish his dreams of writing the ultimate hack. Later on, another fire broke
out. This time it was the Physics major who woke. He too grabbed a garbage 
can, calculated that only 1/2 of the cans' volume need be used for water. 
Proving correct and the fire out, he went back to finish his dreams of finding
the smallest physical particle. Of course, one last fire broke out. This time
it was the Mathematics major who awoke. Taking one look at the fire, he 
promptly concluded that it *could* be put out and then went back to sleep.
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189.1PIPA::JANZENWed Nov 28 1984 14:0113
I like your joke, but I think the CoSci major should have told someone else
how to put out the fire, step by step.
Different people have different skills, as well as different preferences.
Some people like to think things (Math), 
some people like to measure things (Physics)
some people like to build things (Engineers), and
some people like to use things (Programmers).
Actually, all types of people, including those not listed, are needed in all
fields of endeavor.
A measurer and a thinker invented the calculus; a thinker invented relativity;
a builder invented the geodesic dome; and users write video games.

Tom
189.2TURTLE::GILBERTWed Nov 28 1984 18:0316
I'd heard a similar story, but being a terrible joke teller, I'll only describe
the differences from .0.

The three friends were out camping, and took turns extinguishing the campfire
for the evening.  The first two nights, the water bucket was by the base of a
tree, but on the third night, the water bucket was hanging from the limb of the
tree.

The mathematic stood looking at the bucket a while, then took it off the limb
and set it down at the base of the tree.  Again, he considered the bucket.
Finally, he took the water bucket and doused the flames.

When finished, his friends asked, "What was that about?".

The mathematician replied, "Oh, I reduced the problem to one that had been
previously solved."
189.3TAV02::NITSANThu Nov 29 1984 01:0931
I assume this is the correct place to add two more jokes of the same type
=========================================================================

*** Story # 1:

 You give the same problem to a mathematician and to a physician. The problem
is: "Given one room with small fire & water supply, and another room with a
small pot, how do you boil some water?". They both reply the same: "Bring the
pot to the 1st room, fill it with water, put it on the fire, and wait a while".

 Now you give them a different problem: "Given one room with fire, water, and
the pot, how do you boil the water?". So the physic. says: "Fill the pot with
water, put it on fire, and wait a while", and the math. says: "Take the pot to
the other room, and then we already solved the problem..."


*** Story # 2:

 A mathematician, a physician, & an engineer, try to prove that all odd numbers
are prime. Well, the math. starts: "1 is prime, 3 is prime, 5 is prime, 7 is
prime, so by induction they're all prime...". The physic. tries: "1 is prime,
3 is prime, 5 is prime, 7 is prime, 9 is an experimental error, 11 is prime, so
they're all prime...". Then says the engineer: "1 is prime, 3 is prime, 5 is
prime, 7 is prime, 9 is prime, 11 is prime, so they're all prime...".


                                              NITSAN

 P.S. There is a continuation to the 2nd one: There is also a programmer who
      says: "1 is prime, 3 is prime, 5 is prime, 7 is prime, 7 is prime, 7 is
      prime, 7 is prime, 7 is prime, 7 is prime, 7 is prime, 7 is prime, 7 is