It was perfect. Any student who'd been properly prepared through legitimate tutoring and systematic study would recognize the standard form and spot the anomaly. But someone who'd merely memorized procedures or relied on self-study would blindly follow the incorrect path. The students filed in Timothy greeting him with confident familiarity.
The Henderson twins comparing notes from their private tutor Sarah Chin already reviewing yesterday's problems. And then Marcus Johnson, walking with that same quiet determination, taking his middle seat without fanfare. Whitmore noticed the boy's notebook was already open, covered in neat rows of calculations. From his vantage point, he could make out what looked like.
Was that a novel approach to Riemannn sums? He shook his head. The boy was probably just copying problems from some website. Good morning, scholars, Whitmore began, his voice carrying the authority of decades.
Today, we'll review material you should all be familiar with from your preparatory work. He gestured to the equation on the board. This is a standard second order linear differential equation with variable coefficients. Who can walk us through the solution?
Timothy's hand shot up, eager as always. The Hendersons looked confident. Sarah was already working through it in her notebook, but Whitmore's attention was fixed on Marcus, who stared at the board with an intensity that seemed to penetrate the chalk itself. The boy's eyes moved through the equation line by line, and then there wit.
The slightest furrowing of brow at the third line, a pause in the rhythmic tracking of his pupils. He'd noticed something. Anyone? Whitmore prompted, ignoring Timothy's increasingly frantic handwaving.
Surely this is elementary for students of your caliber. I can solve it, professor, Bradley Henderson offered, already standing. Mr. Henderson.
I'm curious about our newer students preparation. Whitmore's gaze fixed on Marcus with laser precision. Mr. Johnson, surely you can solve this.
After all, your self-study must have covered differential equations. The room grew silent. Twenty pairs of eyes turned toward Marcus, some sympathetic, most anticipating entertainment. The scholarship kid being put on the spot, better than morning coffee for the Peton elite.
Marcus remained seated for a moment, his fingers absently tapping against his notebook, not nervously, but as if working through calculations in the air. Professor Whitmore, he began, his voice steady, but careful. I notice there's an issue with the equation as written. Timothy actually laughed.
He can't even read it properly. Someone muttered. Whitmore felt a surge of satisfaction. The boy was trying to deflect to avoid admitting he couldn't solve it.
An issue, Mr. Johnson. This is a textbook example. Perhaps your online resources weren't as comprehensive as you believed.
Marcus stood slowly, his secondhand uniform hanging a bit loose on his slim frame. May I approach the board, sir? by all means. Whitmore stepped aside with exaggerated courtesy.
Please enlighten us about this issue. As Marcus walked to the front, Jason Miller stage whispered, "This should be good. Kid probably thinks differential means subtraction." But something in Marcus' bearing made Whitmore's confidence waver slightly. The boy moved with purpose, not the shuffling reluctance of someone about to be exposed.