You made it! Each month we write a funny question and leave it at water fountains around New York City as a way for the public to engage with math. Runners, walkers, and people of all ages looking for a sip of water — answer the question below. Best answer wins a prize!

A ring is a set R with two binary operations that satisfy field axioms. (Gowers 2008) It’s also something you can wear to brunch.

NOTE: These will always be placed with an easily removable adhesive.

Psst…we’re runners. So we made sure to pick working fountains!

Previous fountains

May 2026