What if the IRS discovered the quadratic equation?

The IRS's job isn't easy. But it's hard to believe that their forms couldn't be, well, a bit simpler. Daniel Velleman, a mathematician at Amherst College, clearly agrees. Back in 2007, he imagined the IRS trying to walk filers through the quadratic formula. The resulting form will feel scarily real to anyone who has spent the day doing their taxes:

Hat tip to Steven Strogatz. Of course, there's sometimes a good — or, depending on how you look at it, very bad — reason the IRS doesn't make things simpler for taxpayers.

Will you support Vox today?

We believe that everyone deserves to understand the world that they live in. That kind of knowledge helps create better citizens, neighbors, friends, parents, and stewards of this planet. Producing deeply researched, explanatory journalism takes resources. You can support this mission by making a financial gift to Vox today. Will you join us?

One-Time Monthly Annual

$5/month

$10/month

$25/month

$50/month

Other

$

Yes, I'll give $5/month

Yes, I'll give $5/month

We accept credit card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. You can also contribute via