Fasters's definitions

Taiwan Math

Often mistaken as “China Math.” Little-known methodologies using 3D abacus and problem-solving strategies or heuristics, and non-Marxist or non-Maoist pedagogies, practiced by local non-drill-and-kill math educators in Taiwan, which are waiting to break free to enlighten the global mathematical community.

The global success of Singapore math has spurred cottage industries in math education like Shanghai Math and Korea Math, which have come and gone quietly. What about Taiwan Math considering that Taiwan is one of the four little dragons besides Hong Kong, South Korea, and Singapore?

by Fasters August 3, 2022

Pi Clock

A normal clock in which the numerals representing the numbers 1 to 12 have been replaced by only three irrational numbers, positioned at π, 2π, and 3π.

What is the acute angle measure when the minute hand of a pi clock points exactly at 2π while the hour hand has moved past 3π—or when the time is slightly past 9:30? Answer: 97.3°.

by Fasters July 30, 2022

MAGA Math

Also known as “Fake Math.” Any math courses or programs promoted by some unscrupulous individuals or shady institutions that promise to deliver pie-in-the-sky results to lure the gullibles or suckers, who are excited by form rather than substance.

Although tens of thousands of blue-collar workers and suburban evangelicals have been taken advantage of by MAGA math providers and politicians, millions of white parents and patriots in red states have been bought into the lie that their children are being indoctrinated by “woke math” publishers and multicultural math educators.

by Fasters September 20, 2022

Creepily Pi-ed

When a math-anxious or mathophobic person’s stress level skyrockets at the sight or sound of the number π, or on spotting expressions or formulas that contain the irrational number—common symptoms are faster heartbeat, sweaty palms, temporary mental blackouts, and in some cases a seconds-long stroke.

Don, who’s creepily pi-ed after watching a science fiction horror movie, was given three days leave by his family psychiatrist to recover from his post-pi traumatic experience.

by Fasters May 28, 2023

Shelf Interest

When the types of books on someone’s bookshelves arguably gives a good insight of their personality, character, or (hidden) identity.

Jack’s shelf interest focuses on true crime books. What are the odds that he’d be a potential serial killer waiting to strike?

by Fasters December 10, 2022

Meter

The distance light travels in 1/x of a second, where x is 299,792,458—the length is measured in terms of the speed of light (x m/s), which never changes.

Since one meter was defined to be 1/10,000,000 (or one over 10 million) the distance from the North Pole to the Equator in 1793, the meter had since undergone a few definitional changes before its present official definition was agreed in 1983.

by Fasters March 23, 2023

Xmas Pi

When the number π has unprovenly been using dreams for centuries to hint at number theorists and numerologists that besides some Old Testament books in the Bible, the birth of Christ is also revealed via its digits, if only they know how or where to look for them—had they sought the Holy Spirit, the Third Person in the Trinity, for direction, they would have received the revelation instead of struggling with their own intellect.

Divining the virgin birth of the Messiah via Xmas pi would have been a digital coup for the mathematical brethren, who could have been flirting with mathematical immortality thanks to their discovery.

by Fasters December 14, 2021