A mathematician, a physicist, and an engineer are dropped off at a farm with the task of coming up with the a fence that will contain a flock of 100 sheep, using the least amount of wood necessary. The engineer hastily announces "A circle will use the least fence for a given area, so this is the best solution." The physicist agrees, and quickly draws out a circle of infinite radius around the sheep, before drawing the fence tighter around the sheep, until it won't constrict anymore. When she's finished, she announces "This will give the smallest circular fence around the herd."
When they look over at the mathematician, they see that he's surrounded himself with a tiny fence. He proudly announces, "The job's done. I define myself as being on the outside."
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