28. Three Economists One Ticket

Three economists and three mathematicians were going for a trip by train. Before the journey, the mathematicians bought 3 tickets but economists only bought one. The mathematicians were glad their stupid colleagues were going to pay a fine 【1】 . However, when the conductor was approaching their compartment, all three economists went to the nearest toilet. The conductor, noticing that somebody was in the toilet, knocked on the door. In reply he saw a hand with one ticket. He checked it and the economists saved 2/3 of the ticket price.

The next day, the mathematicians decided to use the same strategy—they bought only one ticket, but economists did not buy tickets at all! When the mathematicians saw the conductor, they hid in the toilet, and when they heard knocking they handed in 【2】 the ticket. They did not get it back.

Why? The economists took it and went to the other toilet.

三个经济学家一张票

三个经济学家和三个数学家一同乘火车去旅行。三个数学家买了三张票，而三个经济学家只买了一张票，数学家幸灾乐祸地想经济学家这下要被罚款了。当列车长过来时，三个经济学家一起就近躲进了洗手间。列车长留意到洗手间里有人，于是敲了敲洗手间的门。一只手从洗手间里伸了出来，拿着一张车票。列车长验了票，于是经济学家们省下了两张票。

第二天，数学家们决定如法炮制——只买一张票，但是，三个经济学家连一张票都没有买。看见列车长走来，数学家们一起躲到了洗手间里。听到敲门声，他们把票递到门外。票却再也没能拿回来。

原来，经济学家们拿走了票，随后躲进了另一个洗手间。

背景知识与点评

·本笑话以极其夸张的手法展现了经济学家时时最小化自己成本的思维习惯。

英语知识链接

【1】 pay a fine：支付罚款

【2】 hand in：交上，递交