There’s a danger, Dear Gentle Reader(s), in using mnemonics for math problems, especially the advanced mathematics required for affixing the proper amount of tip to a restaurant bill.
For years here in California, it was easy to tip the customary 15%. The state sales tax was 7 1/2%, so one only had to double the tax to be home free.
Then the tip rose to a new custom—20%. Well, that’s OK, too. One simply has to double the first single digit of a bill under $100, or double the first two digits of a bill under $1000. (One doesn’t entertain the thought of a bill over $1000, does one? Not this one.)
Recently a problem arose with the combination of the partial mnemonic double the and gin (Bombay martini—not Sapphire) followed by wine (house red) at dinner. The thought process went something like this:
Let’s see. The bill is $98.00. Double the 9 for $18. What? Um, no. I don’t need a doggie bag. Where was I? Tip. Let’s see. $18 doubled is $36. Easy. Tote it up. Sign it. There. Ready to go.
Something dawned the next morning. (let’s see…four fingers minus three toes plus one nostril…hmmm…uh-oh!)
Let that be a lesson to me, DGR(s).
Pass the bill to someone else.
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Huh. A useful trick not taught in any math class yours truly suffered through. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteOf course, in a couple of weeks, we'll be able to fall back on the "double the tax" method in L.A.