Sometimes you have to be a Genius to figure out something simple. So a long time ago I got to go to Lecture given by a Guy who won the Nobel Prize for the drawing I posted. My Professor , who was well known and respected in his Field...did not win the Nobel Prize. And he did not like the fact that this simple equation won a Nobel Prize. So here is the story as I remember it.
The Equation described in the picture is simple. If you have a starting material, say - Paper- then start a process on it (in this case, light it on fire) up until the perpendicular on the left hand side, it will more resemble the starting material, paper. After the perpendicular it will start to resemble more the end product...ash. Sounds simple, but the math and chemistry are complex.
So once the good Professor finished his lecture, our Professor said this:
"I cannot believe something this simple won the Nobel Prize. A three year old could figure it out."
The Nobel Prize winning Professor took off his glasses, wiped them slowly and said:
"Yes, I agree wholeheartedly. And I wonder... if you are so smart ...why you didn't figure out what a three year old could?"
So out of the room stormed our Professor. A minute later the Nobel Prize Winner went out in the Hallway. We heard yelling in two languages. The TA (a Post Doc herself) made us stay in the lecture hall.
"Please stay in your seats. Apparently there isn't enough room in here for two geniuses. "