Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
The funniest thing about the winning answer is that it is partly an accident: Cady is thinking about a boy's haircut and the truth tumbles out. It is the film's turn from social war to something she is actually good at, and it became a go-to line for a shrug, a dodged question or any problem you have given up on. Maths fans love it because it is also a real answer.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for Mean GirlsShow the scene
North Shore High's Mathletes reach the state finals against Marymount Prep, and the match goes to sudden death. Ms. Norbury's calculus star Cady Heron, who joined the team only for extra credit, gets the tiebreaker question about limits. Her mind wanders to the week Aaron got his hair cut, then she snaps back and pictures what was on the board behind his head. She blurts out that the limit does not exist, and the answer is right. The team wins the state championship, and Cady goes on to Spring Fling.
Sources (3)
- Mean Girls film transcriptMathletes sudden-death round, shortly before Spring FlingReference checked
- Mathletes (Mean Girls Wiki)whole pageReference checked
- Mean Girls (film) (Mean Girls Wiki)plot summaryReference checked
Context reviewed
