Jackie And Mathematics

Eureka Eureka! I have achieved it ...said Jackie a 5-year-old girl whose name was Jacqueline but being a tomboy everyone called her Jackie. 

When she was sleeping that night she felt that she was being transported to a planet of Mathematics as earlier that day she had been scolded by her parents, teachers and principal and as well as she was teased and mocked by her classmates at school for her brains for Maths. 

She woke up in her dream and met a cute genie coming out from space and inviting her to his universe called Mathematics.

He was named Mathy Mindy as he was one of the geniuses who had invented the term Mathematics. He instructed her that she would not be allowed to go home unless she correctly solved every single question of his.

Jackie had no choice but to agree to his strange condition as she missed her cosy room. He lead her to the first door and suggested she follow door by door after solving the question in each door. If, she answered correctly then each door will open. Of course, if she gave any wrong answer she would have to spend her entire life in that tiny room.

Gathering her courage, she began to enter the first door and the Mathematics problem was written on the board 

"What number do you usually call for emergency for dear ones in your Universe"

She realized it was 112 as it was emergency number as recently her grandma fell down and broke her ankle and her parents dialed the number 112 for help.

Luckily the answer code was correct and the door opened for the next clue.

Knowing it was not the end as it's only the beginning to save her life from the planet. She read the next question

#What number do you get - A man is walking down a road with a basket of eggs. As he is walking he meets someone who buys one-half of his eggs plus one-half of an egg. He walks a little further and meets another person who buys one-half of his eggs plus one-half of an egg. After proceeding further he meets another person who buys one-half of his eggs plus one half an egg. At this point, he has sold all of his eggs, and he never broke an egg. How many eggs did the man have to start with?

She was totally startled as she was merely a five-year-old girl and Mathy Mindy suggested she not ponder over the question in a mathematical way but use logic.

After thinking and trying, Jackie finally got the answer and wrote it on the board.

7 eggs. The first person bought one-half of his eggs plus one-half an egg (3 1/2 + 1/2 = 4 eggs) Which left him 3 eggs. The second person bought one-half of his eggs plus one half an egg, (1 1/2 + 1/2 = 2 eggs) leaving the man 1 egg. The last person bought one-half of his eggs plus one-half an egg, (1/2 + 1/2 = 1 egg) leaving no eggs.

Mathy Mindy was disappointed as he was expecting her to be his slave forever.

The second door opened happily for her and she began to enter the final door expecting it to be the hardest mystery.

It was written 

"If you multiply me by any other number, the answer will always remain the same. Who am I?"

She was unsure about this as she hadn't learned multiplication and began to argue with Mathy Mindy for giving such difficult questions inappropriate for her age. He gave her two options either solve and escape from here or work as a slave in my Universe.

Finding it hard to control her tears she thought about the question multiple times. She suddenly remembered the last sentence told to her during the PTM by her teacher that even if you multiply your brains with your test marks you will get Zero only. Angered by her teacher's comments she decided to use Zero by putting her life on the line.

To her astonishment, the final door was opened and she saw the door to her cosy bedroom.

 Mathy Mindy advised her that if you can solve such difficult questions at your age then you can definitely prove yourself to be the best at Mathematics if you allow your brains to embrace it as you need to use logic in it.

Feeling so overwhelmed, she hugged him and promised to show that she could be the best Mathematician.

Hearing a loud voice "Get up or else you would miss your school bus and maths test" She opened her eyes with a smile on her face. She hugged her mom and said, " One day you will be proud of me in the field of Mathematics."

A few months later, during the closing ceremony, her name was called loudly by the Principal to collect the award for being the best in Mathematics. Smiling gladly, she walked up onto the stage, and to her surprise, she met the chief guest who was fondly called Mathy Mindy and began to giggle to herself.