MathPlus's definitions

Pi and Friends

When the irrational number π appears to be particularly attracted to numerical buddies like e, i, and 𝜙 whenever they are indulged in some extra-mathematical activities together, as revealed by their intimate liaisons.

Don’t the following numerical relationships prove that pi and friends have an affinity for one another?
π ≈ 6/5 𝜙²
π ≈ (9 – e)
iⁱ = e^(-π/2)
e^(iπ) + 1 = 0

(- )! = √π
eⁱˣ = cos x + i sin x

by MathPlus February 5, 2021

Space

What you need if you want to represent nothing with nothing.

What’s the difference between nothing and zero? Is one the empty space and the other one a numeral?

by MathPlus December 31, 2018

Pi Is Sovereign

When mathematics’s most famous constant π transcends different math topics and disciplines, permeates both art and science, and lays hidden in philosophy and religion, often popping up in the least expected places in nature—the symbol π is a global icon that resonates positively or negatively with peoples of all ages and backgrounds.

Pi is sovereign among dozens of mathematical constants, but God is Sovereign among thousands of gods and goddesses, or deities and idols.

by MathPlus July 18, 2021

FICA Math

When the Singapore authorities could stop, disable, or block access to any online math content, which was unprovenly created via the works of foreign mathematicians or math educators, that the government deems politically, racially, religiously, or socially inappropriate to be published, because it could cast doubt or create confusion in the minds of locals, who could then have a low or wavering confidence in the Ministry of Education (MOE)’s goal in making the “fine” city an innumerate-free nation—FICA is short for “Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act.”

With a penalty of a fine of up to S$5,000 and continuing fines of up to S$500 for “every day or part of a day” for refusing to remove any politically incorrect content, guesstimate how much FICA math revenue could be generated annually from “mathematically significant” individuals and organizations that committed a mathematical offence.

by MathPlus October 13, 2021

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

Zerolation

The excitement someone feels when they come across something new to them about the number zero, be it a numerical property, puzzle, tidbit, or joke.

Bob’s zerolation upon learning that businesses lose tens of millions of dollars every year because of people’s zerofusion to distinguish between the digit 0 and the letter O lasted a mere few seconds.

by MathPlus September 13, 2018

Yo-Yo Math

When schools or states are willing to change their textbooks every other year, as publishers tempt teachers with free resources (and bribe them with airline and cruise tickets).

Getting an entire state to adopt a publisher's set of textbooks is worth millions of dollars, so the sales and marketing personnel would go all out to play yo-yo math with decision makers to get them to choose their titles over those of their competitors.

by MathPlus July 26, 2017