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 | LA BLAGUE DE L'ARRONDI | |
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During the last few months, we've been endlessly told about the "so easy Euro conversion" to the point that we may now be convinced that we would be completely doom if we were not able to eventually make it... That's true, but only if we are not trying to think too much to the details....
This little calculations I received could very well desserve our best Gouvernment technocratic laws...
Here is a true and up to date theorem :
" With the Euro, it's a little bit more expensive than when it's cheaper,but it's still cheaper than when it's more expensive ! "
A good theorem has to be demonstrated... so here we go :
In January 1-st, 2002, without a single Euro in my pocket but carrying a lot of French francs currency, I go to my favorite baker to present her my best wishes and to buy a very crunchy baguette.
After the usual politenesses...
* How much the baguette now ? * 4.30 Francs, as before ! * Yes, yes, but from today it is in Euro. * Oh! I forgot. A rapid look at my Europocket calculator... And here we are, that makes 0.66 Euro.. * 0.66 Euro, all right, but by the way, how many French francs does 0.66 Euros make ? (a rapid look at my Europocket calculator again)... But ! That makes 4.33F, my baguette increased by 3 centimes ! * Umm ! I don't know, but all the same it is still the same price. * Yeah, it is a mechanical increase, do I say very professionaly. Indeed, if I understood everything, I give you a 5F coin and you give me the currency in Euros? * Absolutely (she's very fashion, my baker, she doesn't say "yes" anymore); * Well, then 5F, that makes (a rapid look at my Europocket calculator... Yes, I know, I shoudn't, but using this tool, I do not still manage to do the calculation in my head): 0.76 Euro less 0.66 Euro for the baguette, I give you back 10 Euro centimes. Some people say 10 cents, but one can confuse with 'hundred' in France... Even that is already not so simple... * Great ! My first coin in Euro! And how much is it in French francs ? * 0.10 Euro... (a rapid look at my Europocket calculator) = 0.66F, oh look, that's the same price as the baguette in Euro... But look, 5F less 0.66F... the baguette now costs 4.34F ! Why ? * Umm ! Well I don't know, but all the same it is still the same price. * You know, I think you are going to often repeat this sentence today. After all, I wonder if I should not take 2 baguettes. Let's have a look: 4.30 x 2 = 8.60F, that is, after a last look at my Europocket calculator, 1.31 Euro. Hold on, 2 baguettes are less expensive than twice a baguette? This is amazing, isn't it ? And if I pay with a 10F coin (= 1.52 Euro) less 1.31 Euro, 2 baguettes cost 0.21 Euro, thus 1.38F. Then the baguette costs: (10-1.38)/2 = 8.62F/2, that is to say 4.31F.
Conclusion :
The baguette which costs 4.30F now costs : 4.34F if you buy only one; 4.31F if you buy 2... but all the same it is still the same price (in Euro).
so it's a little bit more expensive than when it's cheaper,but it's still cheaper than when it's more expensive !
QED Thanks to Arnaud
for sending me this excellent thought... and also to its anonymous author. And good luck to everyone ! |
