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The Times & The Sunday Times
The Times & The Sunday Times
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In his prime

The Times
The Times

Sir, The letters about age and numbers remind me of an incident that occurred some years ago when, after early retirement, I taught GCSE maths part-time at a local college.

One of a group of mature students asked me my age to which I replied that it was currently a prime number and in three years’ time would be a perfect square.

Another student said I couldn’t possibly be 13 to which another added that I could easily be 97.

The matter was resolved when yet another pointed out that in three years’ time my age would also be a perfect cube. Such is the delight of numbers.

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TONY HARWOOD

Chandlers Ford, Hants