3/28/2016

Math Problem

Story Sent in by Luke:

I was out on a first date lunch with Samantha. She was a high school math teacher who (I discovered) only ever talked about her job. Not her family, not her interests... in fact, it became apparent to me during our talk that her job essentially was her family and her sole interest. Sad but there you have it.

After talking for a little bit she wrote something down on a piece of paper and handed it to me. It was a math problem.

"Solve it," she said.

It was something like (3+4(2-5)^2)-((5+2)/3).

I asked, "Why do you want me to do this? You can't figure it out? You're a math teacher."

She said, "I know the answer. I want to see you do it."

I didn't want to do math problems on a first date but I humored her all the same. As I worked it out she chanted, "Please excuse my dear Aunt Lacey. Please excuse my dear Aunt Lacey."

I knew what she was doing. Reciting a mnemonic for the order of math operations - the order in which you break down a math problem with multiple operators (do you add before subtracting? And so on). There was one problem, though: "Lacey" wasn't correct. P(arentheses) E(xponent) M(ultiplication) D(ivision) A(ddition) S(ubtraction). PEMDAS. Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally. At least that's how I had learned it, way back when. Sally. Not Lacey. Lacey made no sense. S for subtraction. L for... I don't know what.

So I corrected her. "You mean 'Sally.' Please excuse my dear Aunt Sally. S for subtraction."

"I mean Lacey. Finish the math problem."

"What does 'Lacey' stand for? There's no math operation here that it corresponds to. Lubtraction? That what you mean?"

"I'm giving you a clue. You can be grateful and finish the math problem."

"I'll finish it, but it's 'please excuse my dear Aunt Sally.' Not 'Lacey.'"

"It's 'Lacey.' Finish the math problem."

I shrugged. "Okay. But it's 'Please excuse my dear Aunt Sally.' S for subtract–"

She slammed a fist on the table. Whoa. "It's Lacey! It's Lacey! It's Lacey!"

I stopped doing the math problem and I stared right at her, horrified. She took a moment to think, then said, "Yeah, I'm positive. It's Lacey."

I said, "Okay," and slid the unfinished math problem back at her.

"You refuse to do the math problem?" she asked.

"I do."

She took the paper back and made little to no effort to speak to me for the rest of the date. It was pretty short, as I wanted to escape as soon as possible. When I did, I didn't look back.

7 comments:

  1. Nah. She wasn't a Maths teacher. Just into kinky role play. If OP followed her to her place, she would have whipped him each time he made a mistake. And pointing out the teacher's mistake IS a big mistake.

    OP, you dodged a bullet. Or missed a great opportunity if you're that way inclined...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good thing you didn't finish that problem OP. If you had gotten it wrong, well...

    And just because I know everyone will look it up, here you go. Or the alternative for kids at the back of the class.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I can't think of anything that would make my peen shrivel up faster than a chick asking me to do math on a first date.

    I was told there would be no math...

    ReplyDelete
  4. "Pencils down. Oh, I'm sorry Jerry. You only made a 60 out of 100, so I'm afraid you're in danger of failing your date. Make-up tests will be held at my apartment tonight at 8p.m. bring a calculator and wine."

    ReplyDelete
  5. Why do people continue with dates when the other person has violent outbursts? People, lesson in life: If you are on a date and somebody has a violent outburst, you end the date. You get up and leave. If you have a bill to settle, settle it, then leave.

    It's not that hard.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ah, not only is this person is wrong, but gets angry at being told so. Just the person you want to have a long term relationship, right? *sarcasm*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Also just the kind of person you want teaching math to kids.

      Delete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Content Policy

A Bad Case of the Dates reserves the right to publish or not publish any submitted content at any time, and by submitting content to A Bad Case of the Dates, you retain original copyright, but are granting us the right to post, edit, and/or republish your content forever and in any media throughout the universe. If Zeta Reticulans come down from their home planet to harvest bad dating stories, you could become an intergalactic megastar. Go you!

A Bad Case of the Dates is not responsible for user comments. We also reserve the right to delete any comments at any time and for any reason. We're hoping to not have to, though.

Aching to reach us? abadcaseofthedates at gmail dot com.