Math with Bad DrawingsCartoon Archive

Punctuality by Symmetry

2023

A boss says 'on time is five minutes late'; an employee applies the symmetric property of equality to conclude that five minutes late is on time.

A boss says 'on time is five minutes late'; an employee applies the symmetric property of equality to conclude that five minutes late is on time. (panel 1 of 3)
Panel 1Download panel
A boss says 'on time is five minutes late'; an employee applies the symmetric property of equality to conclude that five minutes late is on time. (panel 2 of 3)
Panel 2Download panel
A boss says 'on time is five minutes late'; an employee applies the symmetric property of equality to conclude that five minutes late is on time. (panel 3 of 3)
Panel 3Download panel

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Free for classrooms, worksheets, slides and other non-commercial use under CC BY-NC 4.0, with credit to Ben Orlin.

Cartoon by Ben Orlin, Math with Bad Drawings. https://cartoons.mathwithbaddrawings.com/2023-01-01-punctuality-by-symmetry/ (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Transcript

[1] [A meeting already underway; a latecomer arrives with papers] Boss: "Please be more punctual." Latecomer: "What? I'm on time."

[2] Boss: "To me, 'on time' is five minutes late." Latecomer: "Oh! So, by symmetry, 'five minutes late' is on time."

[3] Latecomer (leaving again): "I'm gonna grab coffee. Anyone want anything?" Boss: "Wait… no… I didn't mean…"

Topics
Algebra › Properties of Equality › Symmetric PropertyAlgebra › Equals SignLogic & Proof › Conditional Statements › ConverseNumber & Arithmetic › Measurement & Units › Time
Level
Middle SchoolHigh SchoolAll Ages
Themes
Work & JobsLanguage & WordplayCommon Mistakes