Tag Archives: old tricks

May 7, 2024

The Magical Chocolate Bar

Earlier this year, I posted about that math gag that seems to prove (very mathematically) that 2=0 (an alternate version “proves” 1=0 using the same trick: a covert division by zero, an operation whose undefined result breaks the chain of logic).

Today I’m posting about another somewhat common mathematical (or rather, geometrical) gag — one involving chocolate! In the form of a magical chocolate bar that lets us remove an infinite number of bite-sized pieces but somehow remains the same size. It seems impossible.

And of course, it is. In this post I reveal the magician’s trick!

22 Comments | tags: chocolate, fun with numbers, geometry, old tricks, triangle, tricks | posted in Math

December 15, 2013

BB #33: Oldest Trick in the Book

By Wyrd Smythe

“My dear Mr. Bond! You just fell for the oldest trick in the book”

So this Brain Bubble popped: Just what is the oldest trick in the book? You know how the villains always say, “Ah ha, Mr. Bond! You just fell for the oldest trick in the book!” Admittedly, your smarter, better educated villains say, “Ah ha, you just fell for one of the oldest tricks in the book,” and that lets them off the hook.

But there can be only one oldest, so just what is the oldest trick in the book? Is it the one with two porcupines, a duck’s egg and a large jar of marmalade? I know that’s a really old trick, but I’m not sure it’s the oldest. They say that prostitution is the oldest profession.. is there any connection there?

How’s that for short? All above the fold!

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10 Comments | tags: Blofeld, extremely old tricks, fairly old tricks, heroes, humor, James Bond, less old tricks, Mr. Bond, old tricks, oldest trick in the book, oldest tricks, really old tricks, tricks, tricks so old they're new, villains | posted in Brain Bubble