# A little math problem w/ a silly answer **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 2, 2000, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-math-problem-w-a-silly-answer/18399 "2000-05-02T22:21:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Morgan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/0ea827/32.png) [@Morgan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgan)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2000, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-math-problem-w-a-silly-answer/18399/21 "2000-05-03T19:36:07Z")
The Car Talk guys at NPR had this puzzler last week: 12 + 144 + 20 + 3 sq.rt.(4) ------------------------------------------ + (5)(11) = (9)(9) + 0 7 Which is: A dozen, a gross, and a score plus three times the square root of four Divided by seven plus five times eleven is nine squared, and not a bit more. ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2000, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-math-problem-w-a-silly-answer/18399/22 "2000-05-03T20:16:25Z")
I should have known to mention this already, as 2 of my friends have asked about this, but think of “she” as a constant. Also, by a simple twist of fate, I will not be at work on Friday which is where my primary access to the internet is ( yes, this is what I do most of the time at work. Shhh, don’t tell anyone), so I will give the answer tomorrow, Thurs., late afternoon instead. Did I mention that the punchline is very very silly? ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2000, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-math-problem-w-a-silly-answer/18399/23 "2000-05-03T21:44:43Z")
Well, I’m leaving for the day so I hope no one minds if I just kick this one back up to the top. Good night. ---
**Author:** ![Breckinshire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71c47a/32.png) [@Breckinshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Breckinshire)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2000, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-math-problem-w-a-silly-answer/18399/24 "2000-05-03T23:09:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > …think of “she” as a constant. > \*\* I’m not going to touch that one with a ten foot pole. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2000, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-math-problem-w-a-silly-answer/18399/25 "2000-05-04T02:14:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*\* > > …think of “she” as a constant. > > \*\* > > I’m not going to touch that one with a ten foot pole. > \*\* As if you have a ten-foot pole 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2000, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-math-problem-w-a-silly-answer/18399/26 "2000-05-04T14:52:43Z")
Kickin it back up one final time before the really immature and silly answer is revealed. ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2000, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-math-problem-w-a-silly-answer/18399/27 "2000-05-04T18:25:08Z")
OK, it’s becoming apparent to me that no one really cares about this. So I’ll just go ahead and give the answer for that one person who may be out there who may be curious for some reason or another. First off, let me just say that I’m surprised that no one out there got it. I didn’t think it was that difficult. Now the answer (in a historical context) Well, it all started about 15 or 16 years ago when I used to go to my pediatrician for allergy shots. He always had 101 jokes ready for little children to make the experience of going to the doctor more pleasant and I must admit it usually worked. For example, he might say (right as he was about to stick the needle in my arm): a cat says mee (then stick me at which point I would of course say ‘ow’) a dog says bow (‘ow’) One of his classics was: “what’s 1 she plus 1 she” the answer, of course being 2 she (tooshie), get it? So I asked my girlfriend that, and then I asked her what’s 10she minus 8she, then I asked her for the cube root of 8she (all just to see how many ways I could make her say ‘tooshie’) (I know, we’re pathetic, don’t tell anyone) and so, following along this train of logic i eventually came up with this more complex version appearing in this thread. The silly, ridiculus, immature, 8 yo level, solution/punchline is of course: 2 she. Hope someone enjoys it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![lswote](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lswote/32/5737_2.png) [@lswote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lswote)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2000, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-math-problem-w-a-silly-answer/18399/28 "2000-05-04T19:29:34Z")
Pretty lame. Even more lame since I can’t seem to figure out the proof and just have to take your word for it. Seems after having distracting a couple of us you with the problem you could have at least put the proof. I far as I know the answer could really be PI she and I wouldn’t know the difference. ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2000, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-math-problem-w-a-silly-answer/18399/29 "2000-05-04T19:43:26Z")
Well, proving it is simple. Just plug in 2she for X and you’ll find it works out. All of the “she”'s divide out and then it’s just a matter of simple algebra. Pi she would not work. I don’t have 'em handy but there are 4 possible values for x, but the other 3 are not whole numbers and actually have many decimal places. ---
**Author:** ![lswote](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lswote/32/5737_2.png) [@lswote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lswote)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2000, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-math-problem-w-a-silly-answer/18399/30 "2000-05-04T19:52:52Z")
Ok Kenny. Next time confine the twoshe action to your girlfriend ok? If all you get is giggles out of her with your jokes try saying “I said give me some ass bitch” and see if you can get some action with her that way instead of inflicting your unrequitted horniness on us. ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2000, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-math-problem-w-a-silly-answer/18399/31 "2000-05-04T20:00:59Z")
Advice duly noted Iswote. I didn’t think it would cause any harm. Perhaps I was wrong. ---
**Author:** ![douglips](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@douglips](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/douglips)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2000, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-math-problem-w-a-silly-answer/18399/32 "2000-05-04T22:03:23Z")
I can’t believe I spent the three minutes to read this thread. I’ll never get that part of my life back - you bastard. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Odieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@Odieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odieman)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2000, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-math-problem-w-a-silly-answer/18399/33 "2000-05-04T22:30:27Z")
Well the best thing I can say about this thread is that it was posted in the right forum. 😉 Keith ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-math-problem-w-a-silly-answer/18399/34 "2000-05-05T03:41:03Z")
I warned you all many times throughout this thread (even from the very first post) that the answer was so silly, it might be able to entertain an 8 year old. I take no responsibility for any amount of life that may have been wasted or irresponsibly spent reading this thread, nor for any self-inflicted wounds or, in the extreme case, suicides that may have been caused, directly or indirectly, from said thread. Hopefully, no animals were harmed in the process. Huh? ---
**Author:** ![billehunt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c37758/32.png) [@billehunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billehunt)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2000, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-math-problem-w-a-silly-answer/18399/35 "2000-05-09T12:31:35Z")
Sir, May I suggest for future joke telling: “Wherefore perchance did the poltroon traverse the thoroughfare?” is not funny. “Why did the chicken cross the road” is. (Or at least it’s closer to funny.) Also: “Ass” is funny. “Butt” is funny. “Fart” is very funny. “Tooshie” is not funny. I want my money back. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-math-problem-w-a-silly-answer/18399.md?page=1)