Dear friends, welcome back. It is always a pleasure to share with you stories and anecdotes that remind us how full of surprises and ironies life can be. Today, I would like to tell you about an episode that highlights a well-known truth: often, women, with their pragmatism, solve everyday problems with an ease that we, especially engineers, mathematicians, and physicists, sometimes lose sight of, lost in our reasoning and formulas.

Who was William Feller?

Before delving into the heart of the anecdote, allow me to briefly introduce the protagonist of our story: William Feller. Born in Croatia in 1906, Feller was a distinguished mathematician, best known for his contributions to the field of probability theory. His works laid the foundations for many modern theories in this fascinating area of mathematics. Feller was a brilliant man, endowed with an exceptional analytical mind, capable of solving the most complex problems with elegance and precision.

The Anecdote

One day, William Feller and his wife Clara Nielsen faced a domestic challenge that many of us might find familiar: they needed to move a large round table from the living room to the dining room. It seemed like a simple task, but it soon proved to be a real puzzle.

The two tried pushing, pulling, and rotating the table in every possible way. However, despite their combined efforts, the table seemed hopelessly stuck. After numerous failed attempts, Feller decided to do what he did best: take paper and pencil and develop a mathematical model of the situation. He was convinced that a careful analysis would reveal the solution.

After several minutes of complicated calculations, Feller managed to mathematically demonstrate that their attempt to move the table through the door was impossible. It seemed that mathematics had spoken clearly: the table could not be moved.

Meanwhile, while Feller was immersed in his calculations, Clara had not given up. With the determination typical of those who do not easily get discouraged, she continued to wrestle with the table. And, against all odds, she finally managed to move it into the dining room.

Dear friends, I hope this story has made you smile and think. Science, mathematics, and physics are powerful tools for understanding the world, but we must never forget the value of pragmatism and perseverance. I bid you farewell with affection, inviting you to look at life with curiosity and openness, because often the simplest solutions are the ones that elude us.