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An engineer, a physicist, and a mathematician are shown a pasture with a herd of sheep, and told
to put them inside the smallest possible amount of fence.
The engineer is first. He herds the sheep into a circle and then puts the fence around them,
declaring, "A circle will use the least fence for a given area, so this is the best solution."
The physicist is next. He creates a circular fence of infinite radius around the sheep, and then
draws the fence tight around the herd, declaring, "This will give the smallest circular fence
around the herd."
The mathematician is last. After giving the problem a little thought, he puts a small fence around
himself and then declares, "I define myself to be on the outside."
to put them inside the smallest possible amount of fence.
The engineer is first. He herds the sheep into a circle and then puts the fence around them,
declaring, "A circle will use the least fence for a given area, so this is the best solution."
The physicist is next. He creates a circular fence of infinite radius around the sheep, and then
draws the fence tight around the herd, declaring, "This will give the smallest circular fence
around the herd."
The mathematician is last. After giving the problem a little thought, he puts a small fence around
himself and then declares, "I define myself to be on the outside."
