2009-12-22
Explanation
This comic is presented as a math problem under the banner "Debunk Internet Ads While Teaching Mathematics." The question asks: if a pill could actually double your penis size (as spammy internet ads frequently claim), how many pills would it take to reach the edge of the solar system? The answer, printed upside down at the bottom, is approximately 46.5 pills.
The joke works on multiple levels. First, it mocks the ubiquitous spam ads for male enhancement pills by taking their claims at face value and showing how absurd exponential growth is -- thanks to the power of doubling, you would only need about 47 pills to go from a normal size to the edge of the solar system. Second, it functions as a genuine (if crude) math teaching tool, since the problem requires understanding of exponential growth and logarithms. The framing as "debunking" internet ads through mathematics is itself a humorous concept for a classroom exercise.
The votey panel shows the actual mathematical work behind the answer. It converts the edge of the solar system (~6.4 billion miles) to inches (~5.3 x 10^14), then uses logarithms base 2 to solve for the number of doublings needed: x = ln(10^14) / ln(10^2), yielding approximately 46.5 pills. It also calculates the distance to Uranus as a bonus (about 44.1 pills), which itself is likely a deliberate pun given the subject matter.