Me and my buddy Fred was working in the Mars Complex on Mars. It was constructed from 10 bases/platforms all connected across the great Mars Plains.
One day, he asked me a math question.
“What is 5+6?” He asked.
Me, being a mathematical genius, said 11.
“No you are wrong,” he replied.
“What are you on about?” I asked back.
“It’s 14.”
“How?”
“We are working in base 7!”
Joke Poo: The Baker’s Dozen
My sister gave me a baking conundrum in space.
I was working with my sister, Agnes, in the Space Station Bakery. It was built from 12 modules, all connected by zero-g corridors.
One day, she asked me a baking question.
“What’s 11 + 2?” she asked.
Me, being a culinary whiz, said, “13.”
“Nope, you’re wrong,” she replied.
“What are you on about?” I asked back.
“It’s 1.”
“How?”
“We’re baking in baker’s dozens!”
Okay, let’s break down this joke and then build something new from it.
Joke Dissection:
- Setup: The setup establishes a scenario of two people working in a Mars complex connected by platforms, creating a sense of scientific realism.
- Punchline: The punchline plays on the double meaning of “base” – physical platform and numerical base. The surprising miscalculation (5+6=14 in base 7) is the core of the humor.
- Humor Type: This is a pun-based joke, relying on the ambiguity of the word “base” to create a surprising and illogical conclusion. The humor also stems from the assumed intelligence of the narrator being undermined.
Key Elements:
- Mars: The setting.
- Base 7: The mathematical concept/punchline trigger.
- Miscalculation: The seemingly simple arithmetic error.
- Assumed Expertise: The narrator’s claim to be a “mathematical genius.”
Enrichment & New Humor Creation:
Let’s leverage these elements to create a related observation/joke:
Option 1: “Did You Know” Fact with a Twist
“Did you know that humans originally only counted to 12? Some Historians believe this is because of our 12 finger joints on each hand. I suppose if we only had 7 finger joints on each hand, like Martian humanoids, we’d all be arguing that 5+6 equals a completely different number. Maybe they even have a whole different number system based on how many craters they can see from their base.”
Why it works:
- Connects to Mars: It continues the Martian theme.
- Plays on Base 7: It uses the concept of Base 7 as a setup for the joke.
- Implies a scientific observation: It plays on the idea of observing the differences in the landscape of mars.
Option 2: A Witty Observation
“The thing about base 7 arithmetic on Mars is, it’s just one more thing reminding you that you’re not on Earth anymore. Like, you go there to escape your problems, and suddenly you’re arguing about whether 5+6=14. It’s like cosmic existential dread disguised as grade-school math.”
Why it works:
- Builds on the original: It uses the concept of base 7 on Mars.
- Adds a layer of depth: It layers in the concept of being in an alien environment.
- Adds irony: The irony that the most basic math problems become difficult in a new environment
Option 3: New Short Joke
“Why are Martian accountants so bad at taxes? Because they’re always working in base 7!”
Why it works:
- Short and Punchy
- Relates to Mars: connects to the concept
- Relates to original joke continues with the “base 7” joke.