The Unsexy Equation

Q: Dear Shlomo, I was reading this article in the Times today about how scientists have shown “your evolutionarily endowed sense of approximation is related to how good you are at formal math.” Many people believe that a facility for formal math is related to how socially awkward you are. Does this not mean people with a good sense of approximation are less likely to get laid? If so then an above average score on this test makes you unlikely to get laid. Sincerely, REDUCTIO AD ABSURDUM

A: REDUCTIO, this is fascinating. Let me get this straight: A is a good sense of approximation and B is a facility for formal math. C is a high level of social awkwardness and D is likelihood of getting laid. You are basically asking if A implies B and B implies C and C implies D, does A imply D? That is a nice example of a Transitive Relation. You sure do have a knack for formal math! I leave it to you, the reader, to draw what conclusions you will from this.