Canadian Math

We went to Chili's last night, on our way to purchase a new remote control (see previous post), and when we got our receipt there was a chance to win $1000 for taking a survey. The chances of winning are probably slim, but they're better if you play than if you don't, right? So I got online and did the survey.

After I completed the survey, I saw a link to the contest rules (they were probably available at the beginning of the survey, but I didn't notice them) so I thought I'd check them out to see what "catch" would keep me from winning. This is where the funny part comes in...

From the contest rules:
"If a potential winner is a Canadian resident, such person must correctly answer a mathematical skill-testing question prior to awarding of prize."

What? My best hypothesis so far is that this is some ploy by the education system to make young Canucks pay attention in algebra. Brilliant!

Little Canadian: "Teacher, this is boring. I'm gonna be a hockey player when I grow up. I don't need to know the quadratic equation."

Teacher: "Well, little Johnny, you don't want to win the lottery and be disqualified for not answering the math question correctly, do you? That's a lot of money to miss out on just so you can take a nap in my class today. But, suit yourself."

Then I thought, "nah, that would make too much sense." So, I looked it up...


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skill_testing_question

http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2007/01/72511

Still, I find it funny that a country that gives free health care to everyone only let's the mathematically inclined win contests.