Составителям экзаменационных задач посвящается
Набрел на замечательное стихотворение Эмиля Виктора Рью (Emile Victor Rieu; тот самый, который "Ночные мысли черепахи"). Такое чувство, что автор долго изучал отечественные пособия по подготовке к экзаменам. По крайней мере, метод составления "трудных" задач описан им идеально точно. Итак:
Hall and Knight or 'z + b + x = y + b + z'
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So Mr Hall and Mr Knight they took a house together,
And they worked away at algebra in any kind of weather,
Determined not to give up until they had evolved
A problem so constructed that it never could be solved.
'How hard it is', said Mr Knight, 'to hide the fact from youth
That x and y are equal: it is such an obvious truth!'
'It is', said Mr Hall, 'but if we gave a b to each,
We'd put the problem well beyond our little victims' reach.
'Or are you anxious, Mr Knight, lest any boy should see
The utter superfluity of this repeated b?'
'I scarcely fear it', he replied, and scratched this grizzled head,
'But perhaps it would be safer if to b we added z.'
'A brilliant stroke!', said Hall, and added z to either side;
Then looked at his accomplice with a flush of happy pride.
And Knight, he winked at Hall (a very pardonable lapse).
And they printed off the Algebra and sold it to the chaps.
Со стихотворением я познакомился сначала в отличном переводе Г.Кружкова (в книге "Рукопись, найденная в капусте". М.: Время, 2007).
Update. Френды мне объяснили, что действительно есть школьный учебник по алгебре, авторы которого — Henry Sinclair Hall and Samuel Ratcliff Knight. Здорово!
Hall and Knight or 'z + b + x = y + b + z'
( Collapse )
So Mr Hall and Mr Knight they took a house together,
And they worked away at algebra in any kind of weather,
Determined not to give up until they had evolved
A problem so constructed that it never could be solved.
'How hard it is', said Mr Knight, 'to hide the fact from youth
That x and y are equal: it is such an obvious truth!'
'It is', said Mr Hall, 'but if we gave a b to each,
We'd put the problem well beyond our little victims' reach.
'Or are you anxious, Mr Knight, lest any boy should see
The utter superfluity of this repeated b?'
'I scarcely fear it', he replied, and scratched this grizzled head,
'But perhaps it would be safer if to b we added z.'
'A brilliant stroke!', said Hall, and added z to either side;
Then looked at his accomplice with a flush of happy pride.
And Knight, he winked at Hall (a very pardonable lapse).
And they printed off the Algebra and sold it to the chaps.
Со стихотворением я познакомился сначала в отличном переводе Г.Кружкова (в книге "Рукопись, найденная в капусте". М.: Время, 2007).
Update. Френды мне объяснили, что действительно есть школьный учебник по алгебре, авторы которого — Henry Sinclair Hall and Samuel Ratcliff Knight. Здорово!
