BURNS: I couldn't tell you what a sine, cosine, or tangent is if my life depended on it! And remember those word problems they used to torment us with: if one train leaves New York for Boston at 11 a.m. going 75 miles an hour, and another train leaves New York for Boston at 11:30 going 100 miles an hour, at what time will the operator of the first train text his wife that he left his lunch bag on the kitchen counter?PLATO: I do not understand the question.BURNS: Wow! I stumped Plato! Anyone?ZEE: At no time, since it's illegal for an operator to text while he's operating a train!
In the passage, Burns humorously expresses his struggle with mathematical concepts like sine, cosine, and tangent. He recalls the frustrating word problems from his school days, focusing on a scenario involving two trains leaving New York for Boston. The problem highlights a modern twist, questioning when a train operator would text his wife about forgetting his lunch, showing the absurdity of traditional math problems in contemporary contexts.
Plato’s lack of understanding of the question showcases a clash between philosophical inquiry and practical reality. Zee adds a practical dimension by pointing out the illegality of texting while operating a train, thus humorously grounding the conversation in real-world logic. This exchange illustrates how philosophical dialogue can often intersect with ordinary issues, highlighting the enduring relevance and absurdity of both philosophy and mathematics in everyday life.
