Math Is Fun Forum

simron

Real Member

Registered: 2006-10-07

Posts: 237

Lightbulb

How many software engineers does it take to replace a lightbulb?
-None, it's a hardware issue.

How many mathematicians does it take to replace a lightbulb?
-None, it's possible to prove that it can be done, though...
-3. One proves it exists, one reduces it to a problem already solved, one proves it can be done, and one actually does it. (EDIT: Yay, I can count. It's actually 4.:P)

How many civil engineers does it take to replace a lightbulb?
-4. One builds a bridge to the lightbulb, one load tests it, one builds another building to get off of the bridge afterwards, and one tells another guy to replace it.

Anyone have any more?

Last edited by simron (2008-06-22 15:16:15)

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Linux FTW

MathsIsFun

Administrator

Registered: 2005-01-21

Posts: 7,713

Re: Lightbulb

Engineers do love to build! (How many Mathematicians?)

My all-time-fave is:

How many social workers does it take to replace a lightbulb?
-Just one, but first the lightbulb has to want to change

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"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..."  - Leon M. Lederman

JaneFairfax

Member

Registered: 2007-02-23

Posts: 6,868

Re: Lightbulb

How many Buddhists does it take to change a lightbulb?

None. Change must come from within.

Ricky

Moderator

Registered: 2005-12-04

Posts: 3,791

Re: Lightbulb

How many Zen Masters does it take to change a light bulb?
Four.  One to change the lightbulb.

How many Californians does it take to change a light bulb?
Six. One to turn the bulb, one for support, and four to relate to the experience.

How many mathematicians does it take to change a light bulb?
One.  He gives it to six Californians, thus reducing it to an already solved problem.

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"In the real world, this would be a problem.  But in mathematics, we can just define a place where this problem doesn't exist.  So we'll go ahead and do that now..."

rinku

Member

Registered: 2008-06-30

Posts: 1

Re: Lightbulb

(1)-You are given n > 0 of each of the standard denomination US coins: 1¢, 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, 50¢, $1.  What is the smallest n such that it is impossible to select n coins that make exactly a dollar?

BY-RINKU

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Rinku Prusty

mathsyperson

Moderator

Registered: 2005-06-22

Posts: 4,900

Re: Lightbulb

I get n=77.

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Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.