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No. 622: Why you don't hear about walruses in mathematics classes

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Why you don't hear about walruses in mathematics classes

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Permanent URL: https://mezzacotta.net/dinosaur/?comic=622

Strip by: David Morgan-Mar

T-Rex: The concept of zero is a relatively recent innovation in mathematics.
T-Rex: More recent than most people realise.
T-Rex: Mathematicians only really accepted the idea in the 1970s. Before this, the prior decade was known as the "6s".
Utahraptor: Wow! I did not know this!
T-Rex: The Beatles led the revolution: "Nothing's gonna change my world."
Utahraptor: Whoa.
T-Rex: They also invented walruses.
T-Rex: But the mathematicians haven't fully integrated them yet.

The author writes:

"The egg-man" is a clear reference to a man using the concept of zero, as referenced by the shape of the egg.

And the "glass onion" is another obvious reference to the round and transparent shape of the zero.

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