National Science Foundation

National Curve Bank

MATH Thought for the Day!

Beckman Institute

Topologists like to quote a parody of Hiawatha, about an Indian who made some mittens of furry skin.

THE MODERN HIAWATHA
Rev. George A. Strong (1832–1912)
He killed the noble Mudjokivis.
Of the skin he made him mittens,
Made them with the fur side inside,
Made them with the skin side outside.
He, to get the warm side inside,
Put the inside skin side outside.
He, to get the cold side outside,
Put the warm side fur side inside.
That's why he put the fur side inside,
Why he put the skin side outside,
Why he turned them inside outside.

Previous Thought | Next Thought