MathPlus's definitions

Imaginary Tales

Fictional stories or plots whose characters are the complex numbers or imaginary numbers—conversations among these once-ostracized numbers among mathematicians would allow listeners or readers to get intimate with their beautiful numerical properties.

Mrs. Jones thought that teaching complex numbers via imaginary tales might be a more interesting and creative way to introduce these “fictional numbers” to her students.

by MathPlus December 27, 2017

PAP Fever

When you are struck by Singapore’s efficient political system, run by the People’s Action Party (PAP), which bans all public protests, worker strikes, and riots, while you pretend not to know about the lack of political freedom and the “fear factor” felt by locals.

When visiting Singapore to learn more about its first-rate and quasi-incorruptible civil service, few political leaders from developing countries are immune to the PAP fever.

by MathPlus December 26, 2017

Lifelong Learning

A flowery term for “learning until you die,” when the government would rather spend tax payers’ money upgrading its citizens’ intellectual health than paying for their poor mental or physical health.

Lifelong learning is the buzzword these days, because training institutes and universities, which are all hungry to get a decent share in the continuing education market, can reap an obscene amount of money with their sexy marketing.

by MathPlus December 16, 2017

Jesus Christ

The only name that has the power to save, to heal, and to bless—the Name that is above all other names that can set people free from evil spirits and bondages and restore broken relationships.

Jesus Christ gives birth to the Christian community—the only one that exists for the sake of non-members—whose aim is to bring in the lost sheep that are “outside” God’s Kingdom.

by MathPlus November 19, 2017

1

The devil’s number that makes you feel bad or look stupid if you are not ranked top in everything you plan to do in life—the lie that not being first is only reserved for the weaklings.

Singapore’s obsession in being No. 1 in business, education, and technology is taking its toll on its oft-underrated, but overpaid citizens, who are told that if they’re not the world’s most productive or smart workers, they’re no different from their counterparts in any developing country.

by MathPlus November 12, 2017

Insomgebra

Unable to sleep because of one’s fear of failing an upcoming algebra test, because of low confidence or poor self-esteem, or an irrational fear working with letters that represent numbers.

Jenny suffered from severe insomgebra and loss of appetite over the weekend before she sat for her math paper on Monday morning.

by MathPlus October 31, 2017

Mathematical Bullshit

The lie that an educated person needs to be versed in both probability and statistics, besides being fluent in applied arithmetic, to function confidently in life.

Unless they’re a math teacher or textbook writer, folks from most walks of life hardly need anything beyond grade four math to handle everyday numbers seamlessly—that they require higher math to succeed in life is nothing but mathematical bullshit.

by MathPlus October 28, 2017