Foolproof: A Sampling of Mathematical Folk Humor, Volume 52, Number 1

24 NOTICES OF THE AMS VOLUME 52, NUMBER 1 I n the discipline known as folkloristics [D1] (the study of folklore), a folk is defined as any group whatsoever that shares at least one common linking factor. The factor could be nationality, ethnicity, religion, or occupation. Members of a profession would also qualify as a folk group. Hence, mathematicians constitute a folk. And, like all folk groups, mathematicians have their own folk speech (slang), proverbs, limericks, and jokes, among other forms of folklore. It is precisely the folklore of a group that defines that group. So, mathematicians as a group share a common core of mathematical folklore. Some of this folklore tends to be quite esoteric and intelligible only to members of the group. Outsiders not possessing the requisite mathematical vocabulary and knowledge rarely know such esoteric material, and even if they did they would probably not understand it. But there is also exoteric mathematical folklore that is known to a limited number of outsiders, for example, physicists, chemists, and engineers. Much of this exoteric folklore consists of classic jokes contrasting members of different but related academic disciplines. We intend to offer a brief sampling of both esoteric and exoteric mathematical folklore, concentrating on humorous genres such as jokes. We are persuaded that these data not only serve as a basis for identity among mathematicians but also provide a unique window on mathematical culture in general, and even a clue as to the nature of mathematical thinking. As the readership of the Notices is principally professional mathematicians, we do not feel it is necessary to explain all the data we present. Most readers will already be familiar with many if not all of the examples given here. That is to be expected. All folklore exists in multiple forms and demonstrates variation. There are often many versions of a classic joke or legend. The same absentminded professor joke, for example, may be attached to various historical individuals, for example, Norbert Wiener and John von Neumann. So it is likely that each reader will recognize a particular item even though he or she might have heard it (orally) in a slightly different form.1