21 June 2025

Can somebody help me with this simple math problem?

I thought it to be a fairly simple problem. Now I am stuck. I was reading a book that talked about organizational efficiency. It talked about 3 parameters. Each parameters can take the value of 1 thru 10. So, there are 1000 combinations.

It is at this point, I got totally distracted. The quick thought that came to me mind was how many different products can I get? And ever since, the book be darned, I cannot get my mind off it.

So, to repeat, there are three spots. You can fill each one of them with a number 1-10. So, you get 1000 possibilities. If you take the product of those 1000 possibilities, you will get 1000 numbers. But there will be repeats. For example,(1,2,3) (1,3,2) (2,3,1) (2,1,3) (3,2,1) (3,1,2) (1,1,6) (1,6,1) (6,1,1) will all give 6 as the product.

How many distinct products can you have?

Category: Puzzles | 2 Comments on Can somebody help me with this simple math problem?
14 June 2025

I should never be let loose in an airport which has a great fountain pen shop in it

… or for that matter, any fountain pen shop!!

I remember making friends with Karan Dhir in the William Penn store in Terminal 1 in Mumbai airport a few years back. The gentleman clearly was one of the rare people in today’s world who understand fountain pens. I remember buying one that day and then he presented me another!

Today, while in Terminal 2, I saw another William Penn store. I was hoping to see Karan there. Unfortunately, he is still in Terminal 1 (and in Mumbai, there is no easy way to go from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1). I did make friends with Kiran here and landed up picking three fountain pens.

Loved the coffee color pen. Goes with my fondness for everything coffee lately. Also, got my first Sailor pen. I was a bit worried about the Medium tip nib till Karan pointed out that it is a Japanese company. Japanese pens tend to be half to a full point thinner in nib edge for the same classification (of nib edges) and I love the tactile feedback of fine tips.

Can’t wait to go home, put some ink and start writing with these!

Category: Fountain Pens, Vacations | 3 Comments on I should never be let loose in an airport which has a great fountain pen shop in it