There's a professor in a math class. During the lecture he declares a theorem and says that the proof is trivial, then moves on.
After class, a student comes up to him and asks him about the proof that the professor claimed was trivial.
The student says he doesn't see how you would do it, and it doesn't seem trivial to him.
The professor then looks at the problem and thinks about it. He realises that he doesn't actually immediately know how to prove it. He tells the student to talk to him the next day.
That night the professor looks at the problem again and spends all night figuring out how to prove it. By the morning he's figured it out, and is able to prove it.
The next day the same student comes up to him and asks about the problem.
The professor says: ah yes, I thought about that problem some more, and I can confirm that yes, it is indeed trivial.
Joke Poo: Music Producer
There’s a music producer in a recording studio. During the session, he listens to a band’s track and declares that fixing the mixing is trivial, then moves on to the next song.
After the session, the sound engineer comes up to him and asks him about the mixing he claimed was trivial.
The engineer says he doesn’t see how you would do it, and it doesn’t seem trivial to him. The producer then listens to the track again and thinks about it. He realizes that he doesn’t actually immediately know how to fix it. He tells the engineer to talk to him the next day.
That night the producer listens to the track on repeat, tweaking knobs and sliders all night long, trying to figure out how to improve it. By the morning he’s completely exhausted, but has a potential solution.
The next day the same engineer comes up to him and asks about the problem.
The producer says: ah yes, I listened to that track some more, and after further consideration, the mixing is still… absolutely terrible. Scrap the whole thing and start over.
Alright, let’s dissect this joke!
Joke Breakdown:
- Setup: A math professor, known for asserting proofs are trivial, is challenged by a student.
- Core Conflict: The professor can’t actually prove the theorem immediately but claims he can.
- Punchline: After spending all night figuring it out, the professor doubles down on the “trivial” claim, saving face but highlighting his own struggle.
Key Elements:
- Math Professor Stereotype: Arrogant, confident, possibly out-of-touch with student understanding.
- “Trivial” in Math: A term used for a self-evident or easily derived result. However, what’s trivial to an expert can be a huge challenge for a beginner.
- Saving Face/Ego: The professor’s need to maintain his perceived expertise.
- Irony: The gap between the professor’s claim and reality.
Comedic Enrichment & New Joke Generation:
Let’s play with the concept of “trivial” and the ego of mathematicians:
Tidbit: There’s a famous story (possibly apocryphal) about the mathematician Andrew Wiles, who proved Fermat’s Last Theorem. In one of his early attempts, he presented a proof that was later found to have a subtle but critical flaw. It took him months, and the help of a colleague, to fix it.
New Joke Idea:
Title: The Mathematician’s Calendar
Setup: A mathematician posts a calendar in his office. It’s mostly blank, except for three days.
- January 1st: “Solve Riemann Hypothesis” (In very small print)
- January 2nd: “Proof is Trivial” (In normal print)
- January 3rd: “Admire Nobel Prize” (In large, showy font)
Why this works:
- It builds on the same “trivial” concept. The Riemann Hypothesis is one of the most difficult unsolved problems in mathematics. Implying its trivial, and then admiring a Nobel prize builds on the original professor example.
- The contrasting font sizes are key!
Another Take – Witty Observation:
“The phrase ‘trivially true’ in mathematics is the equivalent of a magician saying, ‘And now, for my next trick, I’ll make this elephant disappear!’ What they don’t tell you is the hours (or years!) of preparation that went into that vanishing act.”
Why this works:
- It uses an analogy to highlight the discrepancy between the apparent ease and the actual difficulty.
- It’s relatable – we all know that things rarely are as effortless as they seem.
Alternative joke:
Why did the mathematician break up with the proof?
Because it was too trivial to commit to!