MathPlus's definitions

Mathematical Masochism

When math educators want to push themselves to the limit, by being the best in their category or field, where they are willing to take enormous risks and bear the pain to be rewarded.

Recipients of the Fields medal—the mathematical equivalent of the “Nobel Prize In Mathematics”—have a penchant for mathematical masochism in order to stand out from the crowd, because these “extreme mathematicians” know that “no pain, no gain.”

by MathPlus October 31, 2018

Trumpstradamus

When Donald Trump gazes into the crystal ball and tweets his prediction or prophecy of the future—for example, “Mexico will pay for the wall!” and “Iran will restore diplomatic ties with the US.”

What percentage of the predictions of Trumpstradamus have turned out to be true? Or is he just another politician-turned-astrologer trying his luck at divining the rise and fall of his critics?

by MathPlus October 29, 2018

Rapture-Ready

When churchgoers stop being pew-warmers and start winning souls for Jesus—when every born-again Christian (living and dead) will be snatched away to heaven on Christ’s Second Coming, leaving lukewarm believers behind.

Because not every believer or churchgoer is saved, Christians need to be rapture-ready to avoid being under the rule of the evil dictator, who will force everybody on earth to be marked with the number of the Beast.

by MathPlus October 28, 2018

Singapore’s GEP

Short for “Singapore’s Gifted Education Programme,” that has sulked up so much taxpayers’ money, yet has achieved so little—an elitist programme that equates high academic achievement with giftedness.

At best, Singapore’s GEP—every parent’s secret desire for their child to get into it—creates the illusion of nurturing individual creativity, when it actually breeds conformity and produces academic snobbery among its members.

by MathPlus October 24, 2018

Pi in the Sky

When the value of the mathematical pi is exactly three, which can be inferred from two verses in the Bible (1 Kings 7:23 and 2 Chronicles 4:2)—the “biblical pi” contradicts the mathematicians’ value, which is about 3.14 or 22/7.

How does one reconcile the value of pi in the sky with the irrational value of pi on earth? Could theologians or theomaticians explain the missing “0.14” bit to the mathematical brethren?

by MathPlus October 17, 2018

f-mail

An email that the sender forgets to include the attached file meant for the recipient.

This week only, President Trump sent three f-mails to his administration, with zero apologies to his puzzled staff—it looks like his digital assistant Siri only executed the first part of his request.

by MathPlus October 4, 2018

A History of God’s Love

When you remember God’s repeated Goodness and Favor in your life—be it in delivering you from a difficult situation, healing you of a sickness or disease, or delivering you from your enemies—this is fuel for your faith that He will do it again.

The red seas He parted for you, or those times when He closed the jaws of the lions in the den, you know this is a history of God’s Love for you—when you see that His faithfulness to protect you and your family never ceases.

by MathPlus October 3, 2018