A three-panel comic is shown, illustrating in-class messaging between the student (a small blue blob) at the chalkboard, and a person dressed as a Roman soldier (back in "Biblical" times?). Panel 1: The blue blob has been given the addition exercise "1 + 1 =", and the blob has the task of filling in the answer; that is, the value to which 1 plus 4 equals. Blob is glancing back over his shoulder at a friend, in hopes of a hint. Panel 2: Blob's friend is the centurion, who holds up his index finger and middle finger, similar to the "'V' is for 'victory'" sign. Panel 3: Blob turns back to the board, and writes down "2". (The joke being, of course, a reference to Roman numerals. Blob misunderstood Centurion's Roman-numeral for 5 as being instead the simplest way to indicate the value "2".)
Miscommunication.
#romannumerals #ArabicNumerals #miscommunication #mathhumor #purplemath
