That Measurement Holds No Quarter With Him

(After I replace a $9.99 toilet seat with a ten-year warranty at nine years and six months — it is cracked and a hair is still sticking out — for one half of the married couple, the other half decides he wants to purchase a replacement mirror panel for their vanity in their bathroom. Not wanting to get this wrong after this event, I take extra effort to identify the vanity type and model, look at the measurements, and decide to ask the man to return home, measure the mirror size, and call me back to confirm. He agrees and calls back.)

Customer: “The mirror panel is eleven and a half inches by eight and two-eighths inches.”

Me: “Okay. Eleven and a half inches by eight and a quarter.”

Customer: “No, you idiot! Eight and two-eighths!”

(Pause.)

Me: “Eight and two-eighths it is.”

(It took four weeks to arrive. Two-eighths just didn’t compute.)

This story is part of our Pi Day Math roundup!

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