Riot at the Calc Exam and Other Mathematically Bent Stories

Colin Adams
AMERICAN MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY 2009, 271 PAGES
PRICE £26.95, ISBN 978-0-8218-4817-3

The intention of the book is given by the blurb on the back which runs as follows:

“What’s so funny about math? Lots! Especially if you’re mathematically bent. In the world of Colin Adams, differential equations bring on tears of laughter. Hollywood producers hire algebraic geometers to punch up a script. In this world, math and humor are synonymous. ‘Riot at the Calc Exam’ is a proof of this fact.

A collection of humorous math stories, this book gives a window into mathematics and the culture of mathematicians. Appropriate for mathematicians, math students, math teachers, lay people with an interest in mathematics, and indeed everyone else. This book is a romp through the wild world of mathematics.”

This is a book of mathematically-based humour and, as with all humour, whether this is good, bad, or indifferent is largely a matter of taste. Personally, I found the humour here somewhat juvenile and tedious. To give you a flavour of the book’s style, in order that you may judge for yourselves, here’s an extract from the beginning of a chapter called ‘Class Reunion’.

“Well, if it isn’t Cosine! I haven’t seen you in 20 years. You look great. Still smooth as a baby’s bottom. How do you do it?

Hey, I heard your wife left you. Sorry about that. So ex is your ex. I hope you don’t mind my saying, but she’s an amazing function. I had a crush on her in school. And have to tell you, she hasn’t aged a day. No one in her family has. I always had trouble differentiating between her and her mother. …”

And another excerpt from a chapter called ‘The Red Badge of Courage’.

“We were fresh out of boot camp, Leftie and me. Hardly knew an integral from a derivative. We thought the power rule was complicated. Just a pair of snot-nosed students. But they said we were ready for Calc II. How ridiculous that sounds now.

We arrived in the country and were assigned to a unit of misfits. Sarge was the only one of us who had seen real combat before. …”

If you think these extracts suggest the book might tickle your funny bone then go ahead and get it. The choice is yours…