Theory Of Numbers

What is the difference between numbers 439 191 and 43 91 91?

Statistically speaking, nothing. But there are situations, when they appear to be different. On a tense morning, some nine and half years back, June 15, 1995, that was exactly what had happened. For a split second, the same number was so different.

For the uninitiated, this very day is set aside for all India declaration of IIT-JEE results. I had given a mixed performance at the exams, a month back. A horribly bad Physics paper, an average Chemistry paper, a good multiple choice, objective paper, and a brilliant Mathematics paper.

Since this was the competition for the best engineering institute in the country, my chances were like that of finding a needle in a hay stack. Earlier, I had a dream as well, that I could not clear JEE. But internally, I was also aware that my hopes are not entirely dashed. There was still a thin rope to cling on.

But I had made everything clear to my parents. That exams had not gone well, and that I stand no chance. I didn't want them to nurture any false hopes. Dejected they were, but like me, they also internally felt the opposite. They thought I was telling a lie to keep the expectation low. Sometimes, parents are more confident of their wards, than the person in question itself.

Therefore, I wanted to see the results first. I didn't want anybody to tell me that I have not made it. I got up early waited for newspaper in the lawns. To my horror, I was soon joined by the entire family. While I was still trying to shoo them off, the paper landed. I was the first one to get it, and searched my roll number. It was surely there, against All India Rank 1270.

As soon as I heaved a sigh of relief, I saw the number on my father's hand. But wait a minute, it was a different one. I choked with shock because I had seen the wrong number. But soon, the haze got cleared. As a habit, I had memorized the number 3 digits a piece i.e. 439 191 while my father had written it as two digit a piece - 43 91 91.

In anxiety and excitement, the two appeared to me as different numbers. But once things got cleared, smiles came back. It was like receiving double joy that day.