Math & the Ducks

[Larry Giver]

Marco Barlotti's shirt by Don Rosa brought up the topic of math
and the ducks.  Of course, they use math often:  In several stories
Donald is calculating income taxes.  Scrooge is always counting
money and projecting investment decisions.  Ludwig is a wiz at
science and math, and HDL use advanced math, too.  Even
though HDL have often played hookey in elementary school, and
showed no interest in many classes, they did amazing calculations
in WDC&S 195 "Runaway Train" to prevent a trainwreck, and
even became experts in other academic subjects like translating
ancient languages.  How is this explained?
      I found the answer in Barks' story "Want to Buy an Island"
WDC&S 235.  This story starts in HDL's kindergarten class, which
they like.  The class is play-acting the roles of bankers, realtors,
lawyers, etc.  The classroom has normal kindergarten decor, but
look what's on the black-board:  a CALCULUS equation!  Truly,  this
was a very special kindergarten class, where they really learned
everything they needed in kindergarten.  Thus, they were so bored in
second grade, etc, that the lessons had nothing new, and so
they often played hookey.  It wasn't until they joined the Jr Woodchucks
that they found new and exciting things to learn.