Re: A physicist, and engineer and a economist are all trapped on an island...



Are there any of these where the mathematician wins?


Sure - there's this one:

A mathematician, a physicist, and an engineer speak at a symposium which addresses the following conjecture: All odd numbers greater than one are prime.

First the mathematician speaks: "Three is prime. Five is prime. Seven is prime. Nine is not prime. Conjecture disproved."

Next the physicist rises: "Three is prime. Five is prime. Seven is prime. Nine is not prime, but we'll throw that one out as experimental error. Eleven is prime. Thirteen is prime. Conjecture proven."

Finally, the engineer addresses the audience: "Three is prime. Five is prime. Seven is prime. Nine is prime. Eleven is prime. Thirteen is prime. Conjecture proven."

--
Stephen J. Herschkorn sjherschko@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Math Tutor on the Internet and in Central New Jersey and Manhattan

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