human
Fine talent that,
gpt
Yes, said Michel;
human
Barbicane, do you know what I have been thinking of all night?
gpt
No,
human
Of our Cambridge friends. You have already remarked that I am an ignoramus in mathematical subjects; and it is impossible for me to find out how the savants of the Observatory were able to calculate what initiatory speed the projectile ought to have on leaving the Columbiad in order to attain the moon.
gpt
You mean to say, replied Barbicane,
human
So be it, said Michel;
gpt
Nothing can be easier,
human
And you knew how to make that calculation?
gpt
Perfectly. Nicholl and I would have made it, if the Observatory had not saved us the trouble.
human
Very well, old Barbicane, replied Michel;
gpt
Because you do not know algebra,
human
Ah, there you are, you eaters of _x_¹; you think you have said all when you have said 'Algebra.'
gpt
Michel, said Barbicane,
human
Hardly.
gpt
Well, algebra is a tool, like the plough or the hammer, and a good tool to those who know how to use it.
human
Seriously?
gpt
Quite seriously.
human
And can you use that tool in my presence?
gpt
If it will interest you.
human
And show me how they calculated the initiatory speed of our car?
gpt
Yes, my worthy friend; taking into consideration all the elements of the problem, the distance from the centre of the earth to the centre of the moon, of the radius of the earth, of its bulk, and of the bulk of the moon, I can tell exactly what ought to be the initiatory speed of the projectile, and that by a simple formula.
human
Let us see.
gpt
You shall see it; only I shall not give you the real course drawn by the projectile between the moon and the earth in considering their motion round the sun. No, I shall consider these two orbs as perfectly motionless, which will answer all our purpose.
human
And why?
gpt
Because it will be trying to solve the problem called 'the problem of the three bodies,' for which the integral calculus is not yet far enough advanced.
human
Then, said Michel Ardan, in his sly tone,
gpt
Certainly not,
human
Well, perhaps the Selenites have carried the integral calculus farther than you have; and, by the bye, what is 'integral calculus?'
gpt
It is a calculation the converse of the differential,
human
Much obliged; it is all very clear, no doubt.
gpt
And now, continued Barbicane,