MathPlus's definitions

Same-Same-But-Different Singapore Math

When the methodology and pedagogy used in Singapore math textbooks and supplementary titles (foreign and local editions) at the same grade are believed or perceived to be equivalent, yet the level of difficulty of the brain-unfriendly questions in both editions differs significantly—the tailor-made overseas editions are often one or two grades lower than the local one.

US math educators need to take note of the same-same-but-different Singapore math titles to temper their expectations of their students’ mathematical proficiency compared to that of their Singaporean counterparts.

by MathPlus August 30, 2021

Pime Travel

When you visualize yourself indulging in a time travel experiment meeting the infinite digits of the transcendental number π, hoping to be struck with some aha! moments, or to experience a flash of insights, along the numerological journey.

Would someone embarking on a pime travel mission be able to see the color or shape of the number pi, or to smell or taste it?

by MathPlus August 31, 2021

Pi Striptease

When the irrational and transcendental number π occasionally reveals herself to excite the mathematical brethren of her numerical or geometric hidden properties, be it through some new beautiful pattern or little juicy theorem.

Both number theorists and numerologists get pretty aroused when they get invited to attend a pi striptease event (by invitation only), whose aha! moments could get them mathematically excited for days.

by MathPlus September 1, 2021

Immoral Vaccination

When high-income countries with high vaccination rates would almost have to beg or coax their citizens to get their third booster shots rather than giving or selling their surplus or hoarded vaccines to developing nations, where the people long to get jabbed.

Nations guilty of immoral vaccination only agree to donate their near-expiry vaccines to desperate pro-Western developing countries, or decide to practice “dose sharing” with another developed country that has a low vaccination rate and a low supply of Western vaccines.

by MathPlus September 4, 2021

The Sanitization of Singapore Math

When fertile or fitting real-life or contextual questions and math tidbits or humor in a math textbook, submitted to Singapore’s Ministry of Education (MOE) for approval, are often rejected for politically incorrect reasons, or because the items could potentially be perceived to be linked to politics, race, religion, or sex.

Items like “Eleventh Commandment: Thou shalt not divide by zero!” and phrases like “beautiful curves,” “immoral algebra,” and “juicy little theorem” are banned without being given valid reasons—aren’t these rejections part of the sanitization of Singapore math to only publish sterilized or sterile contents to satisfy the mathematical wants of a humorously or prudishly challenged audience or readership?

by MathPlus September 5, 2021

Father’s Day in a Pandemic

When the most important day of the year for millions of earthly fathers in pre-pandemic days is already low key or an almost a non-event, unlike Mother’s Day that looks more like a year long affair— Father’s Day has taken a back seat in human or family relationship during this coronavirus crisis, when eating or dining out is forbidden in many parts of the world that are experiencing their second, third, or fourth wave.

This year, ironically or sadly speaking, in a number of liberal countries, Father’s Day in a pandemic is being celebrated in homes where the child is looked after by two dads rather than one—it’s Fathers’ Day, or Father’s Day 2.0, that would test the moral or social fabric of Generation Y or Z in coming decades.

by MathPlus June 19, 2021

Mask Therapy

When someone deliberately uses masks to ignite their creativity, such as donning a face mask while venturing in the wilderness or in an open air surrounding, with no one around, in the hope of getting some novel ideas for a project, or of experiencing an aha to a wicked problem.

After being stuck for weeks with an unsolved math problem, Prof. Dean decided to go for a mask therapy, by trekking some off-campus mountainous region, and hoping to be rewarded with some insight during the trip.

by MathPlus June 21, 2021