MathPlus's definitions

I Really Don’t Care About Math. Do U?

A slogan you wear on a jacket or T-shirt to tell the world how you feel about school math: it is as boring as dull wood, or as useless as stale food.

Prof. Smith likes to get attention from passers-by, so he carries a tote bag with the words “With Math You Can Do Everything!” stamped on it, while wearing a T-shirt with the message “I Really Don’t Care About Math. Do U?”

by MathPlus June 25, 2018

Racial Capitalism

When a company profits on the image of minorities on its website to fake diversity, while paying lip service to building a more diverse company in the long run.

Using photoshopped images or stock photos on its website to make a company look as if it embraces a multiracial workforce is nothing but racial capitalism in action to mislead potential employees, shareholders, and the public.

by MathPlus June 28, 2018

Singapore

A “tuition nation” where your grade six exam score more or less determines your future—the fear of failing and not getting into a school of choice reduces your chances of a decent or quality education, because the top or popular schools have “better teachers” and more resources.

Because of its high-stakes exams, Singapore is probably the world’s most stressful country for a child to experience a normal childhood—and she will be at a disadvantage if her parents can’t afford to send her for private tuition.

by MathPlus July 11, 2018

Singapore Math

A form of “mathematical acupuncture” that could relieve non-Singapore teachers and students of math anxiety, if they experiment with problem-solving heuristics like the bar model method and stack model method, while experiencing the pain of brain-unfriendly questions.

Although a number of countries that embraced Singapore math have seen significant improvement in their students’ math scores, however, without parental and societal pressures for a nation to become numerate, at best cosmetic changes would result even with the best math curriculum in place.

by MathPlus July 14, 2018

Math as Propaganda

When both developed and developing nations are receptive to adopting a foreign or an alien math curriculum, or part of it, because of its rich or creative content—when they recognize that there is much to gain and no political agenda in embracing it.

Singapore, an island-state that has punched above its academic or economic weight, is using math as propaganda to endear itself to both rich and poor nations—its top ranking in international comparative studies like PISA and TIMSS adds weight to its mathematical credential.

by MathPlus July 16, 2018

Comfortably Uncomfortable

When you decide not to let unpredictability or uncertainty affect you and your future—you have come to terms that you have got to live with chaos, no matter how disruptive it can be in putting up a brake to your life’s goals.

Instead of blaming events or things that he’s no control over, John has learned to be comfortably uncomfortable in coping with life’s challenges—he doesn’t let bad breaks or misfortunes affect his attitude towards life; instead, he’s grateful that he can rely on God’s wisdom to overcome whatever obstacle comes his way.

by MathPlus July 20, 2018

The Hotdog Formula

When you design your customer’s experience in such a way that it ends up on a high note—think of IKEA customers looking forward for their favorite hotdog after they have frustratingly lined up to the check-out counters.

To get the customers to return, apply the hotdog formula to your business: offer them something positive, which would make them forget about any inconveniences they’ve experienced—put them in a positive frame of mind at the end of their shopping trip.

by MathPlus July 26, 2018