Malian Math Made Easy

The book “Life, the Universe, and Everything” states that the answer to said title (aka life, the universe and everything) is 44.  Well, one can ascribe a similar mathematical model to Mali.  I have found that I can figure out 2 main aspects of life here by applying a little 4th grade math (thanks to Mrs. Roach at St. Ann’s) and a little algebra (thanks to Mrs. Sapporito at Gilmour Academy).  The examples given all ascribe to the same pick up and drive from Bamako out to Gone Gougou.:

I had an excellent Sunday morning and early afternoon, walking around Bamako and its markets, swimming in a hotel pool, catching a movie, and simply, living.  Maiga had called me around noon and said he had arranged for the driver to pick me up “in the afternoon” at the Malaria center here.
“About what time do you think?”
“Oh, I don’t know.  I will let you know.”
So does that mean 1 hour or 4 hours?  I have learned from talking to Maiga and other Malians that there is a simple equation to derive what time they actually will do something from the actual time they say it will happen.  The equation is thus:

Actual time = time stated + 4-5 hours (Equation 1).

Equation 1 has been tested about 10 times, and it has not failed.  So, after getting off the phone and as I tried to plan out my day, I figured the driver would pick me up at around 4:30.  I arranged for a taxi to take me up the escarpment (bluff) to Point G where the Malaria center is located.  I did email for a while, figuring the driver would arrive around 4:30 or so.  I finished my work at around 4:25, and waited outside.  At 4:45, he showed up.  I love math.

We had 4 errands to run before we were to go to Doneguebougou:

1. Pick up my bag from my house


2. Buy gasoline for the generators


3. Stop at the drivers house to pick up some of his things


4. Buy beer, bread, and watermelon for the group

So, time for the 2nd Equation that explains all Malian life.  This one derives how long it takes you to run errands from a starting point (i.e. ones house) to and end point (i.e. back to the house or to Doneguebougou) based upon the number of things you have to do.  The caveat to this is that this equation is irrespective of the type of errand: running to the store, waiting in line at the bank, getting gas, etc., all receive the same weight.  The equation is thus:

Time to complete an errand = # errands x (45 minutes - one hour) (Equation 2.)

With this said, from Point G to Doneguebougou (factoring in the extra 30 minutes from Point G to Doneguebougou), one would expect our errands to take minimum 2 hours 30 minutes to a maximum of 3 hours and 30 minutes.  This would mean in real time, that if we left at 4:45, we would arrive in Doneguebougou between 7:15 – 8:15.  Sure enough, after running all 4 errands and after finishing the last errand near Point G, we arrive in Gone Gougou at 7:45.  Who says you can’t use math in your everday life. . . .