MathPlus's definitions

Math Art

When you combine talent, skill, craft, and creativity to bring new light to old math problems, such as solving both routine and nonroutine math questions in a creative or unconventional way.

Be it using an abacus to differentiate and integrate functions, chopsticks to multiply two numbers, or a paper clock to teach number patterns, you are doing math art.

by MathPlus February 16, 2021

Pi on Earth

When the symbol π is stone-carved against a circular background of a different color on the ground.

If the value of π in heaven is arguably 3, which is computed based on two biblical verses (1 Kings 7:23 and 2 Chronicles 4:2), what is the value of pi on earth then?

by MathPlus December 4, 2020

Pandemic Purgatory

When countries are caught between the desire to open up their borders to lure tourists to their shores and the fear of triggering new waves of infections.

Singapore finds itself in a pandemic purgatory situation: Should it allow thousands of migrant workers back to revive its comatose construction industry, or should it wait until the infection rates in the countries where these workers come from to head south?

by MathPlus March 21, 2022

Math in the Dark

When problem solving with the lights off could help trigger your imaginary thinking, which could be a catalyst to experiencing that aha! moment in producing a creative or elegant solution to a wicked math problem.

Guesstimate many math educators worldwide could get their imaginations light up if they decided to do math in the dark—when darkness triggers their intuition for that long-awaited lateral solution.

by MathPlus October 12, 2021

Simple Zeros

When you deliberately present figures that end in zeros, instead of including decimal points or fractions—you want to simplify and present the numbers to the nearest thousand, million, or billion so that people can easily make sense of them.

Trying to impress a lay audience with accurate statistics is a case of “more is less”—for example, instead of saying that the 2020 budget is expected to be $148,765,332,185.00, a friendly figure rounded down with simple zeros like $148 billion would be more meaningful.

by MathPlus January 12, 2019

#BuyTwitter #BanTrump

The hashtags used to raise money to buy Twitter in order to shut down President Trump's Twitter account, because his tweets arguably promote bigotry, hate, and violence.

Some billionaires in China (and even some anti-Trump governments) are keen to be part of the #BuyTwitter #BanTrump campaign, because they want to hit back at the 911 president, before his administration imposes economic sanctions against their protectionist practices.

by MathPlus August 24, 2017

Maskerick

Short for “Mask Maverick.” A rebel who wants to set a trend in mask wearing, or a disruptor who desires to make mask wearing a fashion, political, or social statement—for example, encouraging anti-maskers to publicly wear their mandatory face masks inside out to display their displeasure to the authorities.

Maskerick Trump instigated his diehard supporters to don a MAGA mask on their march to the Capitol Building on November 6 to protest against allegedly fraudulent votes that had masked the “illegal” victory of his political opponent.

by MathPlus July 3, 2021