A Tangled Tale · Chapter
§1: The Chelsea Pensioners explained
This chapter presents a mathematical problem about the minimum percentage of Chelsea pensioners who must have lost all four body parts (eye, ear, arm, leg) given the percentages who lost each.
What happens
This chapter presents a mathematical problem about the minimum percentage of Chelsea pensioners who must have lost all four body parts (eye, ear, arm, leg) given the percentages who lost each. The solution is 10%, derived by summing the percentages and distributing the total wounds. The chapter also reviews various incorrect answers submitted by competitors, critiquing their flawed reasoning.
Themes in this chapter
Mathematical Reasoning
The chapter centers on solving a percentage problem using logical deduction and critiquing flawed mathematical assumptions.
Competition and Achievement
The chapter reviews and ranks answers from various competitors, highlighting a class list of successful solvers.
Humor and Absurdity
The author uses witty remarks and absurd hypotheticals (e.g., a warrior fighting after losing all limbs) to critique incorrect solutions.
Characters to notice
- Polar Star
Polar Star's solution is adopted as better than the author's own.
- Algernon Bray
Listed among the illogical octagon who made unwarrantable assumptions.
- Dinah Mite
Listed among the illogical octagon.
- Jane E.
Listed among the illogical octagon.
- Bradshaw of the Future
Solved the problem in a piecemeal fashion and placed in the first class.
- Simple Susan
Placed in the first class list.
Key passages
“Adding the wounds together, we get 70 + 75 + 80 + 85 = 310, among 100 men; which gives 3 to each, and 4 to 10 men. Therefore the least percentage is 10.”
By summing the percentages of wounds, we find 310 total wounds per 100 men, meaning each man has 3 wounds on average, and 10 men have 4 wounds, so at least 10% have all four.
This explains the core solution to the problem.
“Fancy a warrior who would continue fighting after losing both eyes, both ears, and both arms! This is a case which she (or 'it?') evidently considers possible.”
Imagine a soldier still fighting after losing all eyes, ears, and arms—a scenario the solver Delta apparently thinks is realistic.
This humorous critique highlights the absurdity of Delta's assumptions.