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In mathematics, a triple is an n-tuple with n being 3. A triple is a sequence of three elements. It is not a set of three elements, as the ordering of the elements matters, and an element can be present more than once in the same triple. Derived from this abstract meaning it is used in several other contexts.

Contents 1 Triples in humor 1.1 See also 2 Triples in music 3 Triples in television 4 Triples in RDF 5 Triples in sport

A triple is a joke consisting of three statements (also known as comedy threes). The first two statements are similar, usually "straight lines", and establish a pattern which the third statement does not follow.

For example:

John was a quiet gentleman who liked to:

1. work in the garden
2. read literary works
3. eat kittens

Obviously, the third violent activity does not follow the first two benign ones. This may be found humorous.

Other examples include lists, of names for example, where the third is in contrast with the previous two.

"It's one thing to see death coming at the hands of your own creation. Oedipus and his father. Baron Frankenstein and his monster. William Henry Gates and Windows '09." -- David Brin, Kiln People

Here is another typical example, by Woody Allen, in Love and Death:

"If only I could see a miracle, like a burning bush, or the seas part, or my Uncle Sasha pick up a check!"

There are endless variations. Good ones can have a joke within a joke, such as this exchange from All in the Family where the subject of cities with the same names has come up:

Mike: "Portland, Oregon; Portland, Maine."

Gloria: "Springfield, Illinois; Springfield, Massachusetts."

Edith ('Dingbat'): "New York, New York!"

• humour
• paraprosdokian

In music triple refers to triple meter and triplets. See also simple meter and compound meter.

The animated television show, The Simpsons, has been known to constantly use triples for humor. Some example are:

Homer J. Simpson: Oh Grandpa, all you do is complain! "The nurses are stealing my money", "Bart broke my teeth", "this thing on my neck is getting bigger".

Doctor Hibbert: He has a rare case only found in every 2 million people. It's called the Evil Gene. Hitler had it, Walt Disney had it, and Freddy Quimby has it.

Homer J. Simpson: Oh Lisa, vampires are make-believe, like elves, gremlins, and Eskimos.

In RDF a triple is a subject-predicate-object expression.

Example use of triples

• A hat-trick is associated with succeeding at anything three times in three consecutive attempts. For example in soccer scoring three goals in one game.
• In athletics, triple jump is kind of a three-steps-long jump.
• In baseball, a triple is a three-base hit.
• In bowling, three strikes in a row, also known as a turkey.
• In figure skating, a triple jump is a jump with three revolutions.