Three engineers and three mathematicians
are traveling by train to a conference. At the
station, the three mathematicians each buy
tickets and watch as the three engineers
buy only a single ticket.
"How are three people going to travel on only one ticket?"
asks a mathematician.
"Watch and you'll see," answers an engineer.
They all board the train. The mathematicians take their
respective seats, but all three engineers cram into a
restroom and close the door behind them. Shortly after
the train has departed, the conductor comes around
collecting tickets. He knocks on the restroom door and
says, "Ticket, please."
The door opens just a crack and a single arm emerges
with a ticket in hand. The conductor takes it and moves
on.
The mathematicians see this and agree it is quite a clever
idea.
So after the conference, the mathematicians decide to
copy the engineers on the return trip and save some
money (being clever with money, and all that). When they
get to the station, they buy a single ticket for the return
trip. To their astonishment, the engineers don't buy a
ticket at all.
"How are you going to travel without a ticket?" asks one
perplexed mathematician.
"Watch and you'll see," answers an engineer.
When they board the train, the three mathematicians cram
into one restroom and the three engineers cram into
another one nearby.
The train departs. Shortly afterward, one of the engineers
leaves his restroom and walks over to the restroom where
the mathematicians are hiding. He knocks on the door
and says, "Ticket, please." |
