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[formula on blackboard at URL]

Scientists work out formula to end fear of chopsticks

Scientists have devised a mathematical formula to help people overcome the fear of using chopsticks.

They cause so much trouble 60% of those eating Chinese food use the knife and fork.

Dr Qiang Zhao and Dr Jim Al-Khalili at the University of Surrey have developed a formula "to explain simply" how to use chopsticks.

Co(square root)Nnad(2-d)

C = -----------

Mt(1+a).

In the equation C is the "comfort" or ease level of using chopsticks, (100 is a high comfort level, while one is the maximum level of discomfort).

N is the number of Chinese meals eaten with chopsticks, t is the time in seconds it takes to get the food from plate to mouth, n, a, d and m refer to the shape, slipperiness, diameter and mass of the food and Co is a constant incorporating unknown information such as how long the chopsticks are and that angle at which the user is holding them.

Using this formula, experts worked out that a complete novice faced with a 1cm piece of shredded duck in sauce and armed only with chopsticks would have to eat 1,000 Chinese meals before using chopsticks became as easy as picking up food with their fingers.