Fasters's definitions

Orgasmic Pi

The aha! feeling math geeks experience at the sight or sound of a little juicy or sexy theorem, or math factoid, on the number π—a minor form of mathematical bliss that could last for days in some instances.

Just as Roland Barthes, French writer and critic, associates a good or pleasurable read with a dizzying orgasm, pure mathematicians or number theorists secretly dream or long for an orgasmic pi chance encounter, especially when they’re at their most vulnerable state of mind.

by Fasters August 28, 2022

Less Is More

When an item or product costs more than a similar one with less sugar or salt content, which seems to suggest that having lesser or fewer of something is more inconvenient or harder to produce, or making a decision to be healthier is dearer—could it also be a mere marketing gimmick to lure health-conscious freaks?

A six-pack of Chrysanthemum Tea costs $1.95, but a similar one with lower sugar content costs $2.30; two isotonic bottle drinks cost $3.95, while the ones with zero sugar cost $4.40—aren’t these two cases prove that “less is more”?

by Fasters September 8, 2022

The McDonaldization of Singapore Math

When bots would select word problems from a question bank, then forward them to ghost editors in Bangalore, before sending the final proof to POD publishers like Amazon Kindle to distribute both printed and e-copies to customers worldwide.

Guesstimate how much the McDonaldization of Singapore math mass market is worth every year, as professional pirates from India, Pakistan, and Nigeria try to cash in.

by Fasters September 10, 2022

Sheep-and-Wolves Math

Provocative or subversive math questions set by allegedly mean or wicked educators in Hong Kong, whose aim is to brainwash students, by sowing the "seed of instability" in the once-democratically free colonial city and across totalitarian China.

A middle school teacher in Xinjiang was sent to a reeducation camp for two years after he’s found guilty of setting some sheep-and-wolves math questions, one of which is the following: “In a village, a pack of eight wolves have encircled a pen that encloses a hundred and ten sheep. Guesstimate how many sheep could lose their lives before the shepherd and his two assistants arrived on the scene to rescue his flock.”

by Fasters September 10, 2022

Thailand Math

Math questions on food, drinks, and consumer items (toothpaste, lipsticks, skin lotions, etc.) that contain cannabis or its derivatives, which poses a health or moral threat to concerned or conservative parents, pastors, and politicians.

A raw math manuscript, which defines “green products” as those containing marijuana in controlled amounts, was leaked out to some expatriate teachers in an international school in Bangkok. One such Thailand math question is the following: “Two green cookies and a cup of green coffee cost 415 Baht. Three green cookies and two cups of green coffee cost 710 Baht. What much is a green cookie?” Answer: 120 Baht.

by Fasters September 12, 2022

Pitrosexual

A term that describes a subset of mathematical constants that try to adopt certain adult behaviors or practices of the number π so that they too could catch the attention of an oft-semi-illiterate public, who might show an interest in them, especially their sexy numerical or geometric properties.

What are the chances that “pitrosexual” would be named the word of the year by the mathematical brethren in a-not-too-distant future?

by Fasters September 13, 2022

Pi Cemetery

When mathematical conjectures or hypotheses on the number π have finally been proved to be false—any hunches or doubts about them have now been put to rest.

In the last half-century, the piece of land initially allocated for pi cemetery has been enlarged a few times to welcome new dead members on its premises.

by Fasters November 4, 2022