Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for November 05, 2024

What’s the number for 911?…..

And then Dad hangs up the phone without answering his question

That right there is the $64 question.

Seems like a serious emergency.

Math emergency

Now, Dad will use up all the time on that pay phone lecturing Calvin about “building character”!

It’s the same as 15 + 3.

‘Smatter, doesn’t he have enough fingers?

Needs toes as well.

No Calvin, you don’t get to use a ‘lifeline’ (phone a friend).

117, you dolt.

You must show your work.

I don’t think he’s going to get the answer he wanted.

Four. No… seventy-seven!

It’s eleventy-seven. If the problem had been 7 + 11, it would be seventy-leven. (Commutativity doesn’t apply if you don’t know what it is).

One of those rare moments where Dad shows concern for Calvin. Mom shows this much more than Dad does.

Calvin’s school has a pay phone? I didn’t see a pay phone at school until I got to middle school.

Come on dad tell me queeckly. It build character ya knows.

11 + 7 = eleventy seven

snicker

Answer: 11 + 7 = 7 + 11 per the substitution postulate: A quantity may be substituted for its equal in any process. And “may” is permission.