MathPlus's definitions

Covid-🤝

When people are advised to avoid handshakes to lower the risk of getting infected with Covid-19, but urged to think of alternative ways to greet one another—for instance, they could bump elbows; embrace the Thai wai and say hi in prayer-like posture; or use the “footshake.”

Guesstimate how many handshake alternatives have emerged worldwide to combat Covid-🤝.

by MathPlus June 29, 2022

Coronanoia

When you feel paranoiac of catching the coronavirus from someone who coughs, talks loudly on their smartphone, or walks around without a face mask in public squares.

Be it on a train, in a supermarket, or at a hawker center, it’d not be surprising that a large proportion of people suffer from a mild form of coronanoia.

by MathPlus February 13, 2021

Urban Pi

Irreverent or politically incorrect math definitions on and about the number π, most of which stand zero chance of ever being published in a school textbook, because they are deemed inappropriate or unsuitable to the immature or puritan mind, or to those with a poor sense of humor.

How could pi enthusiasts be deprived of a lexicon of urban pi terms or phrases just because some of them are allegedly blasphemous or irreligious or preposterous?

by MathPlus May 24, 2021

Covid-1984

When corona skeptics, vaccine conspiracy theorists, and those opposed to mandatory vaccines and masks, who claim that any lockdown is causing "more harm than the virus,” stage public rallies to challenge the authorities for infringing their rights and controlling their lives—1984 is a novel by English novelist George Orwell, which examines how facts and truth are politically manipulated by dictators or rogue leaders.

Protesters in the UK are holding placards that says that “Covid-1984 is being used for political purposes and public control.”

by MathPlus October 14, 2020

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

Scaramucci Number

A palindrome number that is divisible by 11, such as 121, 1331, and 123,456,787,654,321—a "mirror number" that is a multiple of 11.

Anthony worked at the White House for almost a Scaramucci number of hours, before he's fired.

by MathPlus August 6, 2017

Tower User

A power user of toilet paper in a family, who selfishly expects the other members to replace the last roll each time, when they should be the one to do this dirty job at home.

Tally is the tower user who notoriously uses the last toilet roll until there are barely any sheets left for her family members to wipe their backsides.

by MathPlus December 29, 2018