MathPlus's definitions
When math teachers in a school or state can’t see eye to eye on the degree of accuracy the number π should be given in a math question—for example, should the students be asked to take π to be 22/7 or 3.14?
In the aftermath of the “Pi Brexit” war, a red state in the US has recorded at least a dozen resignations from hardcore evangelical math teachers, who refuse to bulge unless the schools agree to use the biblical value of three for π.
by MathPlus October 16, 2021
Get the Pi Brexitmug. A problem-solving visualization heuristic that is the heart of the Singapore math curriculum, whose copyright is being contested by both China and Russia (or even Japan), because they claimed that the “look-see” methodology used to solve challenging word problems in elementary grades originated from them.
In the aftermath of the Singapore’s claim that they and the Canadian songwriter Hugh Harrison own the copyright to the “Count on Me, Singapore” song rather than the Indian composer Joseph Mendoza, China and Russia now want Singapore to compensate them for “plagiarizing” the bar model method for over three decades—unprovenly, it’s their tit-for-tat message to high-GDP Singapore for not approving their home-made, half-baked vaccines.
by MathPlus March 20, 2021
Get the Bar Model Methodmug. Who was Pi with? Mostly with e, and sometimes with i.
What did Pi do? Make other constants envious of her.
When did Pi do it? Around a quarter past three.
Where did Pi do it? In the least unexpected places.
Why did Pi do it? To prove why she is so popular.
How did Pi do it? By moving around in circles (and sometimes with needles).
What did Pi do? Make other constants envious of her.
When did Pi do it? Around a quarter past three.
Where did Pi do it? In the least unexpected places.
Why did Pi do it? To prove why she is so popular.
How did Pi do it? By moving around in circles (and sometimes with needles).
On Pi Day, Mr. Pier, a high-school math teacher, was called up to the principal’s office to explain “The 5 Ws (and an H) of Pi” he SMSed to his fellow colleagues and students—the boss wanted to make sure that the math joke doesn’t carry any double meaning.
by MathPlus June 8, 2021
Get the The 5 Ws (and an H) of Pimug. When mostly corrupt or undemocratic developing countries blame the rich nations for hoarding the vaccines and expect them to fund their vaccination needs on moral grounds, as few could afford to buy them for their own citizens—when beggars become choosers and accusers, and donors are viewed as hoarders and betrayers.
WHO argues that vaccine inequality threatens global Covid-19 recovery, but avoids to address the root causes for the poor health systems plaguing most developing nations.
by MathPlus April 17, 2021
Get the Vaccine Inequalitymug. When a country registers not even one local, foreign, or imported case of corona infection or death.
When a vaccine became available, how long would most developed countries have to wait before they’d celebrate Day Zero?
by MathPlus November 11, 2020
Get the Day Zeromug. Word problems with a political or social agenda, which often reveals racial, religious, or societal divisions, or which exposes discrimination or prejudice against those from a different country, continent, caste, tribe, gender, lifestyle, race, religion, or belief.
Two political math classics in the recreational math literature, which condones bigotry and racism are:
1. A Turkish bath has 30 visitors in a day. The fee for Jews is 3 dirhams, for Christians 2 dirhams, and for Muslims 1/2 dirham. Thirty dirhams were earned by the bath. How many Christians, Jews, and Muslims attended?
2. A sinking ship must cast off passengers to survive. There are 15 Christians and 15 Turks aboard. The captain, himself a Christian, arranges the passengers in a circle where every ninth person will be thrown overboard. How should he make the arrangement so that the Christians survive?
1. A Turkish bath has 30 visitors in a day. The fee for Jews is 3 dirhams, for Christians 2 dirhams, and for Muslims 1/2 dirham. Thirty dirhams were earned by the bath. How many Christians, Jews, and Muslims attended?
2. A sinking ship must cast off passengers to survive. There are 15 Christians and 15 Turks aboard. The captain, himself a Christian, arranges the passengers in a circle where every ninth person will be thrown overboard. How should he make the arrangement so that the Christians survive?
by MathPlus November 23, 2020
Get the Political Mathmug. When a math teacher decides not to hurt the feelings of their weak students, by insincerely using large numbers and symbols to grade their test paper—for example, a student receiving back their exam paper with a score of (√81)/90 or 4²/100, mistaking it for 81/100 or 42/100.
Some parents object to teachers’ “mathematical sensitivity” or fake feedback, preferring that they’d tell their child the painful truth how poorly they had performed in their math test.
by MathPlus November 30, 2020
Get the Mathematical Sensitivitymug.