Mahy's New Writeupshttp://everything2.com/?node=New%20Writeups%20Atom%20Feed&foruser=Mahy2000-02-27T04:24:29Z2000 green marbles (thing)http://everything2.com/user/Mahy/writeups/2000+green+marblesMahyhttp://everything2.com/user/Mahy2000-02-27T04:24:29Z2000-02-27T04:24:29ZJunior wasn't doing so well in <a href="/title/Kindergarten">Kindergarten</a>. His <a href="/title/parents">parents</a> were at their wits' ends, what could they do? Finally, Junior's Dad made him an offer: "Son, if you can get <a href="/title/straight+A%2527s">straight A's</a> in kindergarten, your mother and I will get you anything you want." Instantly, Junior's <a href="/title/marks">marks</a> improved drastically, and at the end of the year, he did indeed have straigh A's. His father said "Well Junior, you kept your end of the bargain: What is it that you want?" Junior said "Well pop, all I really want is a big sack of 2000 green marbles." Junior's father thought this was getting off pretty light, so he went and bought the marbles.
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First grade was the same story though. Terrible marks, and in deparation Junior's parents made him the same offer: If he would get straight A's, the would give him anything he wanted. He again managed to pull off A's. His father asked him "Well Junior, what do you want this year?" Junior said "Well Dad, I really liked those marbles, so if it is okay with you, I'd like 2000 more green<!-- close unclosed tag --></p>…pigeonhole principle (idea)http://everything2.com/user/Mahy/writeups/pigeonhole+principleMahyhttp://everything2.com/user/Mahy2000-02-25T04:22:08Z2000-02-25T04:22:08ZA basic principle of <a href="/title/discrete+math">discrete math</a> that is used quite often in theoretical <a href="/title/computer+science">computer science</a>. This is one of those things where you think to yourself, "Why did anyone bother to right this down in a book?"
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<b>The Pigeon-hole Principle</b> If <i>k + 1</i> or more objects are placed into <i>k</i> boxes, then there is at least one box containing two or more of the objects. -- Rosen, Kenneth H.; <u>Discrete Mathematics and its Applications</u>, Third Edition<!-- close unclosed tag --></p>