Dead Mathematicians Need to Play, Too

James_1954
James_1954 Posts: 187 Member
edited January 3 in Chit-Chat
The Famous Classical Mathematicians’ Game of Hide and Seek

Newton, Euler, Pascal, and Descartes got together for a game of hide-and-seek. Euler was declared “it,” and he dutifully covered his eyes and counted to one hundred by fives while the others scattered. Pascal and Descartes found good hiding places for themselves. Newton, however, simply walked a few steps away, carefully drew a one-meter square on the ground, and stood in the center of it.

Reaching the end of his count, Euler cried out, “Ready or not, here I come!” Then he looked around and saw Newton. Euler quickly stepped over and tagged him. “Newton,” he called out triumphantly, “you’re it. I found you!”

Newton calmly replied, “No, you didn’t. You found Pascal.”

Replies

  • n0ob
    n0ob Posts: 2,390 Member
    (assuming later in his career) why did they make Euler cover his eyes?
  • peuglow
    peuglow Posts: 684 Member
    I wish I got this. But I majored in history. For shame.
  • jhoyett
    jhoyett Posts: 92 Member
    Yeah, this is a little over my head too...
  • jzrharv
    jzrharv Posts: 126 Member
    Oh, yeah...

    Here's the hint:

    "SI"
  • gingerjen7
    gingerjen7 Posts: 821 Member
    A pascal (Pa) is a pressure unit measure. A newton (N) is a unit of force.
  • James_1954
    James_1954 Posts: 187 Member
    Sorry, I should have included the explanation. In the Systeme International d'Unites (SI), pressure is denominated in pascals. Force, comes in newtons, and area in square meters. Hence, a pascal is a newton per square meter.

    "I've got a million of 'em!"
  • k8blujay2
    k8blujay2 Posts: 4,941 Member
    D'oh! I should have known that.... perhaps it's a good thing I never finished my Meteorology degree.... or perhaps then I would have understood it.
  • James_1954
    James_1954 Posts: 187 Member
    (assuming later in his career) why did they make Euler cover his eyes?

    That's how hide-and-seek is played. The seeker ("it") can't be watching while the other players hide.
  • gingerjen7
    gingerjen7 Posts: 821 Member
    (assuming later in his career) why did they make Euler cover his eyes?

    That's how hide-and-seek is played. The seeker ("it") can't be watching while the other players hide.
    I believe the poster was referring to the fact that by 1766 (later in his career) Euler was almost completely blind, and despite surgery in 1771 he became totally blind.
  • James_1954
    James_1954 Posts: 187 Member
    (assuming later in his career) why did they make Euler cover his eyes?

    That's how hide-and-seek is played. The seeker ("it") can't be watching while the other players hide.
    I believe the poster was referring to the fact that by 1766 (later in his career) Euler was almost completely blind, and despite surgery in 1771 he became totally blind.

    In the immortal words of Walter Sobchak: "I did not know that."

    Thanks!
  • n0ob
    n0ob Posts: 2,390 Member
    (assuming later in his career) why did they make Euler cover his eyes?

    That's how hide-and-seek is played. The seeker ("it") can't be watching while the other players hide.
    I believe the poster was referring to the fact that by 1766 (later in his career) Euler was almost completely blind, and despite surgery in 1771 he became totally blind.

    In the immortal words of Walter Sobchak: "I did not know that."

    Thanks!

    I didn't either. I read it on his wikipedia page to prep for my post where I tried to act like I knew something about what was going on...
  • gingerjen7
    gingerjen7 Posts: 821 Member
    (assuming later in his career) why did they make Euler cover his eyes?

    That's how hide-and-seek is played. The seeker ("it") can't be watching while the other players hide.
    I believe the poster was referring to the fact that by 1766 (later in his career) Euler was almost completely blind, and despite surgery in 1771 he became totally blind.

    In the immortal words of Walter Sobchak: "I did not know that."

    Thanks!

    I didn't either. I read it on his wikipedia page to prep for my post where I tried to act like I knew something about what was going on...
    Gotta love a man who does his research, even if it is on wikipedia! :flowerforyou:
  • PittShkr
    PittShkr Posts: 1,000 Member
    applause.gif
  • jhoyett
    jhoyett Posts: 92 Member
    I LOVE it! Who knew there were so many geeks on MFP???
This discussion has been closed.

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