How to defeat a dragon with math - Garth Sundem

如何用數學打敗一隻龍 - Garth Sundem

Translator: Andrea McDonough Reviewer: Bedirhan Cinar

譯者: Jephian Lin 審譯者: 盧 曉天

Once upon a time

很久很久以前

in the magical and very round Land of Pi,

在一個圓形土地上的Pi之魔法國度

there lived six swashbuckling musketeers.

住著六位神氣活現的劍客

There names were Parentheses,

他們分別叫做「括號」

Exponents,

「指數」

Multiplication,

Division,

「乘」

「除」

Addition,

「加」

and Subtraction.

以及「減」

But each was known best by his or her mark:

但他們的標誌更為有名

the two hands ready to catch a fly of Parentheses,

「括號」是一雙準備好抓住蒼蝿的手

the small and raised digits of Exponents,

「指數」是變小且升高的數字

the mighty X of Multiplication,

一個大 X 代表「乘」

slash of Division,

斜線代表「除」

plus of Addition,

十字號代表「加」

and, well, you can guess the symbol

以及，嗯，你猜得到哪個標誌

by which little Subtraction was best known.

代表小小的「減」

The Land of Pi was not necessarily the most peaceful place,

Pi之國度並不全然是最和平的國度

and that's why the numbers of the kingdom

這也是為什麼住在這王國的數字們

needed the musketeers.

須要這六位劍客

The Land of Pi had been ruled by the numbers

Pi之國度是有所有數字共同治理的

as anarcho-syndicalist commune,

無政府工團主義自治區

each number with a vote,

每個數字都可以投票

but, one powerful number from what we'll call the Imperial Senate,

但是，一個強大的數字 從所謂的帝國元老院

engineered a war between some robot things

發起了一場機器 與王國內騎士之間的戰爭

and the knights of the kingdom,

發起了一場機器 與王國內騎士之間的戰爭

and then installed himself as Supreme Emperor,

接著 自己登基為至高無上的統治者

and then Puff the Magic Digit Dragon ate him,

但最後魔法數字龍帕夫吃了他

and a princess or two,

以及公主及王子

and, well, all the other numbers in the Land of Pi actually.

而且，嗯，還吃了所有Pi之國度的數字

It was kind of a big day.

這算是非常重要的一天

Anyway, the musketeers were called to action

無論如何，六劍客被徵召

to save the Land of Pi from the voracious dragon.

來保衛Pi之國度，避免受到殘暴的龍迫害

They rode towards him on their valiant steeds and attacked.

他們騎著他們英勇的戰馬 朝著魔法龍攻擊

First Multiplication,

守先是「乘」

then Parentheses,

再來是「括號」

but that didn't work.

但他們失敗了

The dragon continued eating people.

魔法龍繼續不斷地攻擊居民

So Addition tried, but was thrown aside.

所以「加」又試著攻擊，但被甩了出來

Exponents leaped at the beast

「指數」躍上那頭巨獸

and was quickly squashed.

但很快地被壓慘了

Nothing was working.

各種方法都沒有效

The musketeers huddled and formulated a plan.

六劍客聚在一起討論一個計劃（公式）

They would attack in sequence,

他們要有次序地攻擊

but who should go first?

但誰先呢？

They bickered for a while,

他們爭吵了一陣子

the dragon ate a few more princesses,

魔法龍又吃了幾位公主

and then they finally agreed.

最後他們達成協議了

They jumped into the first, smallest parentheses

他們在數字龍帕夫中 跳進最初、最小的一個括號

inside the great Puff the Digit Dragon.

他們在數字龍帕夫中 跳進最初、最小的一個括號

Parentheses pointed out where to work first

「括號」首先指出哪部份要先攻擊

and protected Exponents, Multiplication, Division,

然後保護「指數」、「乘」、「除」

Addition, and Subtraction

「加」、以及「減」

while they diced and sliced.

好讓他們將龍大卸八塊

First here,

先攻擊第一處

then, move over there,

然後移到下一處

then there.

再下一處

Look out! There's another set!

看！那裡還有另一團數字！

Parentheses pointed and Exponents took the lead.

「括號」指著，然後「指數」帶頭

Then, it was Multiplication, Division,

接著是「乘」、「除」

Addition, and Subtraction, each in turn,

「加」、以及「減」，依序攻擊

always the same order.

總是照著同樣的順序

P-E-M-D-A-S

P-E-M-D-A-S （括─指─乘─除─加─減）

When they finished that set, they went to another,

當他們完成這團數字，就前往下一處

and another,

再下一處

always working inside the parentheses in PEMDAS order.

總是在括號中依「括指乘除加減」的順序攻擊

Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!

砰！砰！砰！砰！砰！

PEMDAS, there is another spot!

PEMDAS，那裡還有一個斑點！

Don't forget, there can be parentheses inside parentheses.

別忘了，括號裡還可以有括號

There's one!

這裡就有一個！

And that tricky exponent.

然後是機警的指數

There we go!

我們上吧！

Finally, the PEMDAS Musketeers had whittled Puff

最後，PEMDAS六劍客把帕夫

down to his last fearsome roar.

打到剩最後一口氣

But, having vanquished Puff the Magic Digit Dragon,

而在把魔法數字龍帕夫打倒後

all the empire's numbers sprang again from this tiny little number one,

所有王國裡的數字居民們 都從這小小的數字一裡跳了出來

and they all lived happily ever after.

他們從此過著幸福快樂的日子

Except for the Emperor Number,

除了，那個統治者

which they threw into the mouth

他被丟到了沙漠中

of an ancient nesting creature in the desert.

那古代藤蔓植物的口中

The End.

劇終