While traveling home Monday after our great weekend in the Chicago area (already over a week ago!), we had an interesting exchange with Conrad. Interesting good. We had stopped for breakfast at a Panera and while there had a conversation that went something like this:
Conrad - I'm still hungry (after eating his entire bagel)
me - want half of this? (referring to my half bagel in front of me)
Conrad - Yes. That would be one-fourth of your bagel, right?
me - yes. (inwardly smiling of course)
Conrad - and if I ate half of the half of the half it would be one-eighth, right?
me - yes, that's correct (wow - he remembered a random conversation we had while eating a picnic lunch after swimming lessons a few weeks ago!)
About 5 minutes later, the 1/4 bagel now eaten by Conrad.
Conrad - what's eight plus eight?
me - 16. Why?
Conrad - So if I ate half of the half of the half of the half. Wait, half of the half of the half of the half, yes that's right, if I ate that much it would be one-sixteenth of the bagel. Right?
me - uh...(thinking through the number of times he said half of the half)...yes, that's right!
geez! where did that come from? We were eating outdoors so while him and Norrie took off skipping up and down between the rows of tables to the curb and back (love outdoor seating when there's no other customers!) I asked Tim if he's had a similar conversation with Conrad previously. He hadn't so we think Conrad just picked up on the pattern of 2, 4, 8 and assumed (correctly) the next number would be 16.
Either that, or his uncle Brian had a math talk with him over the weekend and this was discussed. Being an actuary, numbers are one of his favorite subjects :)
