TB2303 – Math Theories at 2AM

Ship: Regina Maris
Date: 23rd of March 2025
Position: Horta, Azores
Geographical Position: 38°31.946‘N 028°37.494‘W
Etmal: 0 nm
Total: 10,966 nm

Many of you may know by now that there is some sort of school given on the Regina Maris. Some days better and some days a little more chaotic.

Niklas’ math class isn’t like the usual today. As you may notice, today was a Sunday à la deep clean. We shouldn’t have school on a Sunday, right?

Wrong. Niklas chose to write a math test over the last few months‘ worth of math.

Short recap:

The last lessons were filled with presentations on different math topics. Groups of three had to explain one theme to the rest of the class. All topics were the ones we are currently learning in school. From 9th to 11th grade, from the Pythagorean theorem to tangents – everything was covered.

Luckily for our math test, everybody, of course, paid attention during the presentations.

It was thanks to that luck that we found the solutions for our math test the day before. Though it was a little strange that we found them in the mess room, some of us took pictures with our tablets “just to be sure.” Nothing could stop us now!

Unfortunately, Niklas unsuspectingly collected our tablets, only to then tell us that we wouldn’t get them back until after the test had been written the next day. Everybody, angry, we started plotting and planning.

As kids, we came together, just like in an old movie and found out that Hannes had taken pictures with his camera.

And just like that, our plan came to be.

The teachers went for a stroll, and we had the Regina to ourselves. We started calculating the solutions and passing them on, determined to get the math right. After some time, somebody (I dunno who) found the math test again. Apparently, it had never left the mess room.

At this point, everybody knew something was up. Niklas wouldn’t be this stupid and just leave it there. Also, the math was way too difficult for everyone to solve. („This math test wasn’t the yellow from the egg“. „The cat still needed to come out of the bag.“)

Speculations started running like wildfire. Niklas wasn’t this stupid, so it had to be on purpose.

One theory was that Niklas always wanted us to help each other and that the real challenge was to fake our way through the test together. Another was that there wouldn’t be a test at all, or that Niklas was just an ass and would give us a different one.

By that point, many agreed to just stand up and leave if the test turned out to be another one – the questions being way too difficult.

In the end, no one really knew. Some stayed up until 2a.m., calculating everything over and over. Others just gave up, did something else or went to bed.

It was a very strange way to spend your entire Saturday evening – calculating something without even knowing if it would matter.

The following day, we were woken up by the beautiful words: “deep clean.” Skipping that section, it was already 12:00 – food time! With the looming math test at 2p.m., everybody had the solutions by now. Little notes were hidden everywhere. Only one way to find out if they’d help.

When the clock dinged twice, it was Niklas who had to explain something.
Sitting, ready with our pens and notes, we didn’t have to wait long.

The math test that was handed out wasn’t the one we had prepared for. Would’ve been too easy, of course. He explained to us that the test was just for practice. All that effort for nothing – everybody was disappointed. In the end, he made the test way easier, solvable for everyone, „Transferaufgaben und so“.

It was because of that sentence that nobody stood up. It saved Niklas’ ass from the shitstorm that was about to come when he said the words “other test.”

Still, I found it very entertaining to write it. You just know Anna and Niklas had a little too much fun creating the test when the caption was “Are you happy?!” and many solutions included the number 42.

In the evening, “Nothing really exciting happened!” with a few exceptions – Niklas having a discussion about why he does the things he does and our new captain being – surprise – Heine.

I went to bed with a smile, knowing to never trust Niklas again and feeling relieved that I wasn’t the one who had calculated until late into the night.