Online meme page invents equation to calculate underwear needed on holidays

Online meme page invents equation to calculate underwear needed on holidays

Yes, this is a real story, and that is up there with the strangest headlines Travel Weekly has ever written.

But let’s get down to business.

A user on online meme page, Meme Queens, asked how other members in the group calculate how many pairs of underwear to take while on holidays.

Clearly, this was a topic many of the members were keenly interested in figuring out, as the question completely took over the site.

Within hours, equations, estimates and confusing calculations were posted on the site, some intelligent, some less so.

meme1

The following equation was then posted in response.

memeq

Though it didn’t stop there, after the equation was posted, fellow user Karina Judd went so far as to create a spreadsheet for other members to use while packing.

Speaking on the spreadsheet, Judd said: “I saw that [the other group member] had made this post asking for feedback from the scientific community but no peer review was being offered.

“As a scientist, I wanted more from the maths. So I stepped up. Women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) have to lift each other up.

“The [Excel] calculator is inspired by Jess’ formula but has a number of key differences and improvements.”

She added: “The formula behind the calculator isn’t perfect by any stretch, but it does work for most realistic situations.

“I can’t help you if you input you’re going away for several years with IBS, dodgy water and no intention of doing laundry ever! We’re up to version three already.

“A future version would include a “packing light” option – although selecting “wash every second day” under laundry will give a similar result.”

Check out the actual, real-life, methodically worked out spreadsheet HERE.

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