MathPlus's definitions

Pittoo

When someone conspicuously wears a π tattoo to publicly show their undeniable or unquestionable love for the irrational number.

Just because some gangsters have a pittoo on their forehead is no proof that they actually love the world’s most disliked school subject—on the contrary, it’d be very likely that they hate the symbol so much that they decided to wear it out of rebellion.

by MathPlus February 26, 2021

Piometry

When the symbol π is seductively or sexily designed to make it appear like porn math to an oft-innumerate public—when the most famous constant in mathematics looks more pleasing to the naked eye than to the mind’s eye.

Even mathophobic artists couldn’t resist from indulging in some piometry every now and then to give their audience a glimpse of symbolic elegance.

by MathPlus April 29, 2021

Covid Strikes in Threes

A belief among superstitious or idolatrous folks in some parts of Asia that the evil spirit of the coronavirus would linger around until it has claimed at least three victims within days in a certain locality.

Some polytechnic students couldn’t start their “morbid” project to test the paranormal hypothesis whether or not “Covid strikes in threes,” because it’s deemed “insensitive and heartless.”

by MathPlus February 27, 2021

CECA Math

When Singapore’s Opposition parties were only given a fraction of the politically charged numbers they requested from the government on the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), such as the total number of “foreign talents” from India and their family members who are presently working and living in the country, and the number of locals who benefited from the Singapore-India free trade agreement that was signed in 2005.

Singaporeans won’t lose sleep or go on strike because sensitively constipated CECA math statistics aren’t going to come out (until one day when the Opposition wins the hearts of a majority electorate)—99.99% of locals don’t need immigration figures as living proof, because they, their loved ones, or friends had seen or experienced the aftermath of this one-sided deal first-hand.

by MathPlus July 18, 2021

Philamask

Stamps that depict different face masks commonly worn by both the medical community and the lay public in various countries to protect themselves and others against the coronavirus.

Philatelists are excited that a number of countries would be issuing philamask commemoratives or first day covers to promote the message why it is mandatory for the public to don a face mask during a pandemic.

by MathPlus July 25, 2021

Kiasu

FOMO 2.0, which is about unhealthy or selfish fear and insufficiency. A Hokkien word for the oft-irrational fear of not getting enough or of losing out to others.

Members of the public in Singapore had to wait until February to get hold of the 2021 primary one math textbooks and workbooks, which is based on the new MOE syllabus, because a number of kiasu tuition center owners had called the bookstores in December to reserve dozens of these new titles, leaving zero copies for those who couldn’t buy them from school bookshops.

by MathPlus February 28, 2021

Virtual Civil War

When polarized people continue to fight even after election or referendum results have come in.

Virtual civil wars continue to be waged on social media since Brexit and Donald Trump’s victory more than two years ago.

by MathPlus January 10, 2019