MHB Help with a hard word problem on Facebook

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The discussion centers around a nonsensical joke that combines unrelated elements, such as pencils, apples, and pancakes, leading to an absurd answer about aliens and hats. Participants express confusion over the joke's meaning, debating whether it is an example of absurdist humor or simply a failed punchline. The consensus suggests that the joke serves as a parody of traditional word problems, reflecting how they may appear to the majority of people who find them perplexing.
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My wife found this on Facebook.

If I have four pencils and you have seven apples,
how many pancakes will fit on the roof?

Answer: Purple, because aliens don't wear hats.

 
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Would someone please explain the joke for me? Can't decide whether it's absurdest or just missed the punchline.
 
Jameson said:
Would someone please explain the joke for me? Can't decide whether it's absurdest or just missed the punchline.

Seconded.
 

Do I really have to explain the joke?

It is a parody of all word problems.

This is probably the way word problems look
. . to 99% of the general population.
 

Thread 'Why do we spend so little time learning grammar in college?'

To some degree, this thread is inspired by PF user erobz's thread "Why do we spend so much time learning grammar in the public school system?" That's why I made a title to this thread that paralleled the title of erobz's thread. I totally disagree with erobz. I created this thread because the curriculum of grammar at Universities is a totally distinct topic from the topic of the curriculum of grammar in public schools. I have noticed that the English grammar of many ( perhaps most)...
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