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One of my favorite jokes I tell to my students when
they spot a mistake in my calculation on the blackboard
is this:
"There are three kinds of math professors.
First, those who can count.
Second, those who cannot."

(End of the joke).

It is a common misunderstanding that mathematicians
mostly do complicated calculations, or that they are
somehow better in this than other people.
For example, I was very impressed that some people
on this list can reduce a lunar by hand in 30 minutes:-)

Alex.

On Thu, 9 Dec 2004, Bruce Stark wrote:

> GO HENRY!
>
> Alex wrote: "Security 'officers' I met were of the same
> kind as 17-years old
> girls in a local supermarket who cannot count your
> change when the computer is
> off."
>
> You responded: "Hardly different from a navigator
> who can't do a time sight
> if his
> calculator gives up -- is it now?
> Sorry Alex, I just had one of those
> irresistible urges!"
>
> Perfect shot! Even though we both know Alex is
> probably better than we are at
> hand calculation.
>
> Bruce

   

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