Talk:Mathematics/Jokes, anecdotes, puzzles, games, riddles

Jokes, anecdotes, puzzles, games, riddles

 * Put one joke, anecdote, puzzle, game, or riddle in each section.
 * The section name is a short, descriptive name for it.
 * A joke, anecdote, puzzle, game, or riddle is notable if it should be described in the article.
 * Include a description, references, and reasons why it is notable.

Description
Rubik's Cube

Notability

 * Illustrates group theory.
 * Children can solve it.
 * Features in popular culture.
 * Speedcubing is popular sport.

Description
The story goes that, in the course of a long lecture tour, the famous American mathematician Daniel Gorenstein was chauffeur-driven to various venues around the USA. While Gorenstein lectured, his chauffeur sat in the back row of the auditorium. In time the chauffeur became so familiar with the material (and it was pretty deep stuff) that he joked to Gorenstein, "At this point, I bet I could give that lecture myself!"

One evening Gorenstein was scheduled to speak at a small university where he guessed his face wouldn't be known. Feeling particularly tired, the master hit upon the idea of asking the chauffeur to give the lecture while he rested in the back row. The lecture went off without a hitch, and at the end the chauffeur answered without hesitation all the questions he had heard asked and answered hundreds of times before -- all, that is, except one last question which left him entirely at a loss.

After a momentary panic, he composed himself and said, "That question is so simple, I believe even my chauffeur could answer it." The dozing "chauffeur" shamed the questioner with an immediate reply.

Notability

 * Features a mathematician.
 * Appears in a notable book.