What does this joke mean?

Question

I saw this written on a blackboard in the math department building the other day:

Gas Law: $PV=nRT$

Ideal Gas Law: $(P)(V)=(n)(R)(T)$

I know the ideal gas law is something from chemistry, but I'm assuming this is meant to be some sort of joke involving math. Any ideas?

It's simply, in commutative algebra, the ideal generated by a element $a$ is usually denoted $(a)$. — Bernard, Dec 13 '15 at 01:54

score 14 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 13 '15 at 01:54

14

In a ring, "$(a)$" is common notation for the principal ideal generated by $a$. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principal_ideal.)

answered Dec 13 '15 at 01:54

Noah Schweber

2

But if the gas law is the equality $PV=nRT$, then the ideal gas law would be $(PV=nRT)$. The joke doesn't work. – Git Gud Dec 13 '15 at 13:02
7

@Git Ugh, no, that would be the gas law ideal. A horse race is a race for horses, and the ideal gas law is the gas law for ideals. – Dec 13 '15 at 17:52

1 Answers1