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Mathematics Goes to the Movies

by Burkard Polster and Marty Ross

The Rules of Attraction (2002)

3:15
Sean Bateman (James Van Der Beck) is arranging to deal drugs for Rupert (Clifton Collins Jr.). Guest (Michael Ralph) is vaguely listening.
RUPERT: What kinda mark-up you think you can get, from these rich-ass freshmen?
JAMES: Well, that depends upon how stepped on it is.
SAM: Stepped on?! Guest, is our shit stepped?
GUEST: Nah, Man, it’s fresh as the morning snow…
JAMES: Maybe twenty per cent over market value.
RUPERT: Fifty per cent, you say! Hot damn, college boy. That’s some good motherfuckin’ math!

41:38
Lauren Hynde (Shannyn Sossamon) and Lara Holleran (Jessica Biel) are discussing sex.
LARA: O.K., well do the math. If a condom is 98% safe, and he wears two, then you’re 196% safe. A better percentage than the pill can offer.
LAUREN: I don’t think it works that way, Lara. Abstinence is 100% safe, which is less than a percentage than…
LARA: Whatever. I don’t care, I don’t major in math.

REMARKS: If a condom fails 2% of the time, and if each of two condoms fails independently of the other, then both will fail .04% of the time. Thus, wearing two condoms is 99.96% safe.