Short Story for boys and girls written by: Edgardo Luciano Camarero.
Click to read THE MATHEMATICIAN PRINCE (PART 1)
…The prince knew that the question was really difficult, and thought it was going to take him more than 5 seconds…He made a big effort, and three thousandths of a second before the time finished, the kid exclaimed:
- “3.838.214!!!”
- “Well done!” – said the voice – “continue your way, just have one question left”
The prince kept walking through the dark corridors, watching out everything around; suddenly saw a light shining at the end of the corridor coming from a door, the prince ran to reach the door, but this closed brusquely and a sirens were heard, the voiced spoke again:
“This is the last question, you have a few seconds to solve you have still one mathematical problem to solve before these walls close turning you into a human strainer!…And the question is: If you add 18 to a number and then subtract 53 units, and the result is multiplied by 3, the final result is 195 ¿which is the first number?”
The prince had never faced a mathematical problem like this. He solved difficult problems, but none like this. His nerves betrayed him, seeing that those pointed walls were getting closer to finish with his life; and could not concentrate to solve the question.
There were only two centimeters left until the mathematical prince began his long journey to heaven, when suddenly the correct answer came to his mind:
- “100, number 100!!” – exclaimed the prince.
At that moment, the walls stopped saving the kid´s life. He ran towards the exit where was his father.
- “Son” – said King William – “What are you doing coming out the most dangerous mortal trap?”
- “I got lost looking for the park” – said the kid – “And I got in there accidentally. But it was very funny, I almost died at the end, but I knew the answer before the walls stabbed m”.
- “Son” – the king added – If you weren´t the whole day enclosed studying maths, the worst would had happened to you. I apologyze for trying to separate you fro that activity. Now, you can continue doing what you were doing, if you want”.
- “Yes, dad” – said his son – “I´m going to continue what I was doing: Looking for the way to the park. I have been mediating and I think the best is to go out and breath some fresh air. Maths are so useful for people´s everyday life, that is why we don´t have to stop studying it, even if seems to be the most boring subject in school. But stay the whole day enclosed, away from the world, making only one thing is not good either.
I understood that is good to go out, hang out with all kind of people, especially my age. That is why from now on, I am going to study and to have fun at the same time. I´m not going to be enclosed the whole day without talking to anyone. I will dedicate the first hours of the day to study in school and after finishing my homework, I will go out to play with my new friends. Thanks dad”.
The prince was not alone in his room again. When he arrived from school, made his homework and went out to play with his friends.
And lived very very happy the rest of his life….And that is the end of the story…
THE END
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