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Mathematics Goes to the Movies

by Burkard Polster and Marty Ross

Titanic (1997)

1:17:49 (Marty’s copy 1:13:50)
ROSE: Mr Andrews, forgive me, I did the sum in my head and with the number of life boats times the capacity you mentioned, forgive me, it seems that there are not enough for everyone aboard.
MR. ANDREWS: About half, actually. Rose, you miss nothing, do you?

1:43:07
MR. ANDREWS (summing up the mess): From this moment, no matter what we do, Titanic will founder.
???: But this ship can’t sink!
MR. ANDREWS: She’s made of iron, sir. I assure you she can, and she will. It is a mathematical certainty.