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Latest Postings
- March 26, 2010: Math Is the Science of Patterns, Including This One
- March 10, 2010: When 15 > 25?
- February 22, 2010: Amelia's Dance = the Body as a Math Visual Aid
- February 22, 2010: Driving Math with the Math of Driving
- October 21, 2009: 10,000 Left Shoes
- June 12, 2009: Right on Time
- February 22, 2009: Mathematical Chuck Norris Facts
- February 21, 2009: Subtraction Without Borrowing
- February 12, 2009: Self-Reference in Musical Theater -- Show Off from Drowsy Chaperone
- February 9, 2009: Testing Probability
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Math Humor
I will start my collection of math humor with Abbott & Costello. For Abbott and Costello loved to perform funny mathematical routines. Some they performed in different settings. I once heard that they had a mathematician among their writers. Many of their mathematical skits are quite famous. I think that their most famous routine, “Who’s On First’” is funny because of its mathematical point of view (I will explain it in that post.)
Can you figure out why these skits are so funny? What is wrong with the math and how to fix it?