One day when Knuth was meant to be performing with the College band he missed the bus taking the band to the performance so, finding himself with free time, he tried to solve a challenge problem that one of his mathematics professors had set.
Isang araw kapag Knuth ay sinadya upang maging gumaganap sa College banda na hindi siya ang bus pagkuha ng banda sa pagganap ito, paghahanap ng kanyang sarili sa mga libreng oras, siya tried sa hamon na malutas ang isang problema na ang isa sa kanyang matematika professors had set.