One day, the president of a university invited the heads of the math, physics, and engineering department to the gymnasium for a challenge.

"At one end of the basketball court are the top students from each of your departments," the president said. "At the other end is a table with some delicious cake. Every 2 minutes, the buzzer will sound and the students will advance half the distance between themselves and the cake. I want each of you to tell me when your top student will get to the table and begin enjoying his cake."

The head of the mathematics department glared at the university president. "You're a monster," he said. "You know just as well as I do that my top student will never get to the table. You've condemned him to starve to death out there on the basketball court!"

The head of the physics department laughs and says "I'm afraid my mathematical colleague is getting all worked up over nothing. It is an infinite series, but it does converge. After an infinite amount of time, my top student will get to the table."

The head of the engineering department pulls out a pencil and paper, scribbles a few quick notes and says, "Assuming a regulation 94-foot court, my student's going to be close enough to reach out and grab a slice of cake in 12, maybe 14 minutes."