Assume a spherical cow

Milk production at a dairy farm was at an all-time low, so the farmer decided to call on the local university for help. A team of the institutions' top scientists was assembled to work on the problem. The team of scientists visited the farm and took extensive data carefully examining every step of the production process. The leader of the team, a theoretical physicist, offered to write the report. A week later the physicist returned to the farm, saying to the farmer, "I have found a solution for your problem. First, let’s assume a spherical cow…"

Assume a spherical cow…