Numerati's definitions

Zero Fucks

When someone doesn’t give a heck or damn if they feel they were or are right, even if others didn’t or don’t like them because of it.

Leaders can’t lead their sheep effectively unless they give zero fucks to all those oft-unreasonable or biased complains or protests against them.

by Numerati January 26, 2024

Is Pi Democrat or Republican?

When politicians and philosophers fail to agree whether the irrational number π subscribes to the liberal or woke ideology of the Democratic Party, or shares the conservative or puritan beliefs of the Republican Party (and maybe even the MAGA gospel of the Trumpublican cult).

Metamathematicians don’t think that π will ever conform to the biblical value of three, which is preached by some alt-right Christian nationalists, while far-left ethnomathematicians divine that π holds the secret to the workings of the universe. Is pi Democrat or Republican?

by Numerati June 28, 2025

X

The name of an arguably mismanaged company, invariably defined by a range of unknowns or variables, such as the true value of its assets, the number of fake or spam accounts, the uncertain dismissal of more employees with declining ad revenue, its decision to allow hate speech on its platform, and its possible sale to a gullible or rogue owner to avoid bankruptcy.

What are the odds that with all the lawsuits, fines, and more advertisers deserting the platform, not to say, the low morale among its overworked staff, X might be the next Blockbuster or Kodak?

by Numerati August 3, 2023

Rogue Ratios

Quantitative bad deals whereby enslaved workers or employees are being taken advantage of by their bosses or entrepreneurs, who have financial control over their lives, be it five days of work in exchange for a weekend break (5 : 2)—an investment of –60%—or a two-week annual leave (2 : 52), or a 5% savings rate on gross salary for 40 years.

Millions of people around the world are aware of the rogue ratios that force them to live a mediocre life, but only a very percentage of them think they can work for a better ratio to achieve financial freedom.

by Numerati August 17, 2023

Zombie Math

When canned and conventional math methods (or dated and dead ideas) live on, and anxious teachers and parents rely on old school techniques to solve word problems, especially when oft-visual problem-solving strategies are available to help students with “look-see” solutions.

Tens of thousands of American math teachers are stuck with zombie math, refusing to experiment with Singapore’s more intuitive bar model method in solving brain-unfriendly math questions.

by Numerati December 9, 2024

Spatial Structuring

When students exercise shape flexibility in solving a math problem to enhance their understanding, or to figure out any hidden or nonobvious relationship between the known and unknown quantities, such as moving and rearranging parts of a bar model drawing or/and adding dotted lines to a model diagram.

It’s not surprising that those who practice spatial structuring stand a higher chance of solving a word problem when using the “draw a diagram” strategy than their peers who don’t.

by Numerati January 29, 2025

What if?

Two of the most powerful words in your vocabulary that could empower you to change the world and make it a better place for billions of people on the planet.

Asking “What if?” is all about possibility. What if Trump were a truth teller? What if Kim were a peacemaker? What if Christ came back next summer?

by Numerati February 8, 2024