The Etymology Of Failure

Newton's second law: F = ma. But in this case, "F" is labeled "Fysics" (the budget spelling of Physics), "m" is labeled "math," and "a" is labeled "a whole lot of tears." The perfect equation for every physics student's experience. The force required to pass physics equals your mathematical ability multiplied by an excessive amount of suffering. Whoever made this clearly spent as much effort on spelling "physics" as most students do on their homework the night before it's due.

The mathematical enthusiasm paradox in its natural habitat! Nothing kills your math buzz faster than the collective groan of "I hate math" from literally everyone you know. It's like excitedly discovering a beautiful equation only to have someone respond, "Cool story, nerd." The social calculus is clear: loving math = instant social isolation. Yet we persist, secretly scribbling derivatives while pretending to text at parties.

The Trojan Horse of science education! Physics teachers are basically smuggling math into unsuspecting students' brains! That wooden horse looks impressive from the outside—all cool physics concepts and fascinating phenomena—but crack that baby open and SURPRISE! It's just a bunch of equations hiding inside! No wonder half the class gets that deer-in-headlights look when the teacher starts deriving formulas. You sign up thinking you'll learn why the sky is blue and end up wrestling with differential equations instead. The ultimate academic bait-and-switch!

The mathematical horror! What we're witnessing is a clash between elementary arithmetic and advanced notation. In the equation, 2+2=4!!!, the triple exclamation marks aren't just excitement—they represent a multifactorial in mathematics. For the uninitiated, 4!!! would be calculated as 4 × 1 = 4 (a triple factorial skips numbers). But the joke is that in regular math, 2+2=4, while our cartoon character is having an existential crisis thinking the exclamation points are changing the value. Meanwhile, the bell curve shows that only the mathematical elite understand this is technically correct—just in a way that happens to match the elementary result. It's that beautiful coincidence where advanced math loops back around to give us the same answer as simple addition, leaving our yellow-shirted friend utterly bewildered.

The perfect demonstration of what mathematicians actually do with their time. While normal humans wonder about the practical applications of mathematics, the reality is far more... specialized. Nothing says "I've reached peak mathematician" quite like reciting prime numbers for three straight hours. The friend's stunned silence says everything. No wonder mathematicians struggle at parties—they're mentally listing whether 2,971 is divisible by anything other than 1 and itself.

What starts as "just a 20-minute adventure" quickly devolves into a pendulum physics nightmare. The top panel shows the simple pendulum equation, making it seem easy. The bottom panel reveals the horrifying reality—a time calculation formula that would make even tenured professors weep. Classic interdimensional field trip gone wrong. That moment when you realize your grandfather's "quick errand" involves solving differential equations that would make Newton reconsider publishing Principia .