Just then Police Chief Billy Jay Cyprus ran over to
me. "Math Maven, we need your help. I'm afraid
this little prank is the work of that botanical rascal
Ima Grubb."
You see, Ima was the top plant specialist for the town
park. But last month she ran an experiment in which
she crossed Venus-flytraps with violets and created
pretty little purple flowers that snapped at people
passing by. Needless to say, Mayor Rhett Angle fired
her immediately -- and rumor had it that Ima was out
for revenge!
"We found this stuck on one of the rose thorns."
Chief Cyprus handed me a note written in flowery script:
SO MAYOR ANGLE REJECTED ME?
"A DANGER TO THIS TOWN!" SAID HE.
A CLEVER PLAN I HAVE DEVISED,
TO CUT YOUR GARDEN DOWN TO SIZE.
WHAT ONCE WAS 800 SQUARE FEET IN ALL,
WILL SOON BE 100 TIMES AS SMALL!
TO SAVE YOUR BLOOMS, USE YOUR MIND:
THE NEW DIMENSIONS YOU MUST FIND.
WRITE THE NUMBERS ON MY MAGIC HOE,
AND WATCH YOUR PRECIOUS GARDEN GROW!
"I don't even know where to begin!" cried
Chief Cyprus. "Math Maven, can you help me?"
"Don't worry, Chief," I said. "My Math
Detectives will get right on it."