MathPlus's definitions

Coronaffiti

When Singapore with strict graffiti laws sounds open to designating spaces where graffiti is allowed—a form of vandalistic inoculation—especially for folks to vent out their frustrations about the government’s half-baked reactive measures in containing the high infection and mortality rates, as the “fine” city experiments to live with Covid in the endemic new normal.

Arts critics have mixed feelings about Singapore’s semi-openness in allowing coronaffiti at some designated locations, because some artistically talented actors from the Opposition could be a pain in the brain in exposing the 4G leaders’ recurring hypocrisy and ineptitude in solving the corona crisis.

by MathPlus October 7, 2021

Mathematical Doodles

The untapped tool that has hardly been used by oft-boring or uncreative math writers to convey difficult concepts to their lay readers—when math educators-turned-doodlers or artists-turned-math writers could disrupt math publishing such that the world’s most disliked school subject needn’t be terminal once it becomes optional.

The use of mathematical doodles could be seen as a visual version of math guides for dummies, idiots, and morons—an intersection of math, art, and creativity to raising the quantitative literacy of millions of semi-innumerate people worldwide.

by MathPlus October 8, 2021

Pi Magnet

When the symbol π drawn on a piece of paper is cut up and glued onto a piece of magnetic sheet to make a DIY fridge magnet—an inexpensive fun family math activity to introduce the most popular constant in mathematics to precocious kids.

What are the chances that if some kidpreneurs decided to tailor-make some pi magnets to sell to their classmates, they could earn enough money to afford a Mother’s Day present?

by MathPlus October 8, 2021

Pi Poop

Mean or shitty statements uttered at the number π by other constants, or by some real and imaginary numbers, that are numerically or symbolically envious or jealous of her popularity or fame in many branches of mathematics.

“Pi is a chameleon that changes its value according to the situation she is in to appear ever useful.” or “π is an overrated irrational number that has bedeviled so many vain mathematicians, who have spent much of their working lives misusing obscene amounts of computer power to reveal as many digits of hers as possible.” or “Pi wants to be selfishly associated with the circle, which is arguably the most beautiful curve in mathematics.” Are these rantings mere pi poop to discredit the most beloved constant in mathematics?

by MathPlus October 9, 2021

Grow the Pi

When you give the value of the number π correct to more significant figures or decimal places in order that a better pi approximation could be used in a calculation.

Rocket scientists want to grow the pi to play safe, because working with more digits would help reduce any loss in human lives.

by MathPlus October 10, 2021

Rainbow Math

When liberal publishers in some Western countries decide to green-light math titles by LGBT+ authors in spite of the high risk of offending or alienating conservative potential customers—when they argue that sexual orientation and math publication needn’t be mutually exclusive.

Radical Islamist groups from rogue nations like Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, and Iran have warned foreign publishers that their publications would be removed from bookstores if they’re caught shipping rainbow math titles to both Mohammedans and “infidels.”

by MathPlus October 10, 2021

Void Deck

Singapore’s empty zones on the ground floor of apartment blocks, where children play in the mornings and senior citizens play Chinese chess or complain about unpopular or unfair government policies at dusk, aimed at encouraging communal interaction among the bored residents.

To what extent have void decks in the “fine” city of Singapore strengthened social cohesion and religious harmony among the different races in the last half century? Does it sound like another socially engineered attempt by the authorities to maintaining peace and order in the multicultural and multiracial island-state?

by MathPlus October 11, 2021