# gladiator math **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 18, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator-math/603365 "2011-11-18T17:27:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator-math/603365/1 "2011-11-18T17:27:55Z")
Can someone please explain to me Proximo’s negotiation with the merchant selling him slaves? “I’ll give you two thousand, and four for the beasts… that’s five for an old friend.” Anyone know if this had any real meaning or if it was just a simple mistake that made it through the final production? ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator-math/603365/2 "2011-11-18T17:50:11Z")
He’s using a bit of strong-armed negotiation to give himself the “old friend” discount. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator-math/603365/3 "2011-11-18T18:03:41Z")
“2k + 4k - my discount = 5k” ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2011, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator-math/603365/4 "2011-11-19T04:14:13Z")
I have to say, I would have never figured that out if that is indeed the case. It makes some sense after reading your answers, but my head didn’t go in that direction. thanks! ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2011, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator-math/603365/5 "2011-11-19T05:43:40Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > “2k + 4k - my discount = 5k” Yeah didn’t Proximo grab the seller literally by the balls because he wanted his money back for a previous purchase (I believe it was giraffes, that Proximo decided were “queer”), and the seller said he’d give him a discount on his new stock? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2011, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator-math/603365/6 "2011-11-19T06:18:50Z")
Before he asked for the discount, yes. ---
**Author:** ![IKmowMyShizznet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/919ad9/32.png) [@IKmowMyShizznet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IKmowMyShizznet)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2026, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator-math/603365/7 "2026-05-23T05:08:39Z")
Proximo first said he would take 1000 for 6. For all 6. 4000 for the slaves and 2000 for the beasts. Then he says I give you 2000 and 4000 for the beasts. That’s 5000 for an old friend. He knew that he wouldn’t get his money back from his last business deal with the slave/beast trader. Beast I’m assuming means animals. lol When he said that’s 5000 for an old friend, I don’t think it was reverse phycology either by sayjng the slave trader would make good deal for an old friend. I believe Proximo conned the slave trader by saying hell pay 2000 and 4000 for the beast. That’s 5000 for an old friend. Wasn’t again using old friend to make it 5000. The slave trader basically couldn’t do math. Haha ---
**Author:** ![IKmowMyShizznet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/919ad9/32.png) [@IKmowMyShizznet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IKmowMyShizznet)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2026, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator-math/603365/8 "2026-05-23T05:09:20Z")
A 15 year old post. Haha ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2026, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator-math/603365/9 "2026-05-23T21:39:52Z")
But still - welcome!