# Answers to Correspondents explained — A Tangled Tale

> Chapter companion for A Tangled Tale by Lewis Carroll.

## What happens

The author responds to correspondents regarding Knots II and VI, clarifying assumptions about house numbering and defending the mathematical reasoning behind the Double Rule of Three problems. He addresses criticisms of his tone, explaining that his 'trenchant expressions' were meant in jest, and distinguishes between severe language used in earnest and playful banter.

## Themes in this chapter

### Mathematical Reasoning

The chapter delves into the nuances of Double Rule of Three, illustrating how varying conditions require different solution methods, and critiques correspondents' misunderstandings.

### Humor and Absurdity

The author uses playful language and anecdotes, such as the riddle with Brown and Smith, and defends his jesting tone against criticism.

## Character check-ins

### Trojanus

Correspondent who assumed the street enters the square in the middle of each side for Knot II.

### Balbus

Correspondent who argued that only varieties (a) and (c) of the problem are possible.

### Fifi

Correspondent (Fifee) who claimed adding proportional numbers instead of multiplying is no error.

### Lieutenant Brown

Old friend who guessed a riddle correctly and praised it.

### Smith

Old friend who failed to guess the same riddle and dismissed it as poor.

## Key lines

> I hold that to use language likely to annoy any of my correspondents would not be in the least justified by the plea that I was 'quite certain of being correct.'

The author argues that being correct does not excuse using words that might upset readers.

_Response to a correspondent's criticism of his tone._

> Why, even if addition had been the right method to use, not one of the writers (I speak from memory) showed any consciousness of the necessity of fixing a 'unit' for each subject.

The author points out that even if addition were correct, the correspondents failed to consider the need for a standard unit of measurement.

_Critique of correspondents' approach to the Double Rule of Three problem._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_tangled_tale_se/chapters/answers-to-correspondents
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_tangled_tale_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_tangled_tale_se/chapters