Imponderables

[Clintmax]

Why do superficial papercuts hurt so much more than grosser cuts?

Why does the price of gas end in nine tenths of a cent?

Why is yawning contagious?

[billyskank]

1. Hmmm

Maybe superficial cuts hurt more because deeper cuts damage the nerve endings? Or maybe the greater pain from a worse injury causes something to happen in the brain which reduces the level of pain you feel (in case you need to run to save your skin, or something) ?

As for gas prices, that sounds like price pointing to me. Retailers always think that we will be less put off by 9.99 than by 10.00, as you know. I guess that the same thing is going on with gas prices. Funnily enough, they don't do that in Britain. Petrol prices here just float up and down; they don't even round it up to a single penny - it's always given to a 10th of a penny! Naturally, once you've filled your tank then they round the total cost up to the nearest penny...

I don't know about yawning.

[In_The_Wind]

2. why is it

:shrug: When I have money - I can't find anything that I really like to buy but the day that I'm broke I always spot the cutest lil' things?

[ScreamingMeemie]

3. Interesting blog here...

http://j-walkblog.com/index.php?/weblog/comments/nine_tenths_of_a_cent/

[Clintmax]

4. Answers:

1. Why do superficial papercuts hurt so much more than grosser cuts?
The sensory nerve endings are located close to the skin surface, and the hands, where most papers cuts occur, contain more nerve endings than almost any other area of the body.

2. Why does the price of gas end in nine tenths of a cent?
For the same reason retailers price products ending in .99 rather than a round number. In other words, there is a BIG difference between 29.9 cents and 30.0 cents in consumers minds.

3. Why is yawning contagious?
No one knows...most likely answer is that people who yawn together are doing the same things together (usually non-exerting activities) and it is coincidence. :shrug:

[tjwmason]

5. If there are answers

then by definition the questions are ponderable. :P

I'm just saying.