Those who can remember their secondary school geometry may be surprised to learn that mathematical calculations went much further than the Pyramids, the Parthenon and Machu Picchu, with applications that went as far as early family planning techniques.

An early American Plains Indian legend relates to a wealthy chief who had three wives, with one enjoying his special favour. One wife was given a puma fur mattress; the second received a buffalo pelt mattress; while his favourite’s wedding gift was a bed made from hippopotamus skin.

The three wives became pregnant, and their offspring arrived as follows: a boy was delivered by the lady from the buffalo skin, a girl came from the wife on the puma fur, while the favourite wife produced twins – a boy and a girl!

This event prompted locals with a head for figures to assert that the squaw on the hippopotamus was equal to the sum of the squaws on the other two hides!

Just imagine the good friendships you too could damage with a joke like that….

Happy daze to all