Socrates: I think we can narrow these four groups down to three, and thus make the search easier. Would you like that?

Boy: Certainly, Socrates.

Socrates: Let's take even over even ratios. What are they?

Boy: We know that both parts of the ratio have two in them.

Socrates: Excellent. See, Meno, how well he has learned his lessons in school. His teacher must be proud, for I have taught him nothing of this, have I?

Meno: No, I have not seen you teach it to him, therefore he must have been exposed to it elsewhere.

Socrates: (back to the boy) And what have you learned about ratios of even numbers, boy?

Boy: That both parts can be divided by two, to get the twos out, over and over, until one part becomes odd.

Socrates: Very good. Do all school children know that, Meno?

Meno: All the ones who stay awake in class. (he stretches)