MathPlus's definitions

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

Sham Shot

When syndicates or scammers set up bogus vaccination camps to charge both rich and poor unsuspected folks for injecting them with a saline solution instead of the locally approved coronavirus vaccine.

After feeling drowsy and having discomfort in her arm, Devi suspected that she might have been administered a sham shot.

by MathPlus June 26, 2021

Pandamic

When mathematical modeling shows that the next pandemic would probabilistically come from pandas, as the virus moved from these beloved or cute animals to humans, but the potential source location of infection, be it in a zoo or forest, remains a bone of contention.

Would the next pandemic be pandamic, as people and pandas increase their close contact with each other, thus putting an end to China’s panda diplomacy?

by MathPlus January 4, 2022

J🦠KER

Someone who does a prank by falsely sms-ing friends, colleagues, or relatives, or by lying on social media, that they had contracted Covid-19 and had been warded in an ICU in hospital.

Guesstimate how many corona pranks are being carried out by J🦠KERS every day worldwide, thus creating panic in the family, community, or country.

by MathPlus November 2, 2021

Green Vaccine

A vaccine whose production process must strictly adhere to Islamic principles—one that must be halal, otherwise Mohammedans should reject any vaccination even if having such an “haram jab” would protect them against the coronavirus.

In some parts of the Islamic world, Islamist leaders warn health authorities that any approved green vaccine should only be administered by Muslim doctors and nurses, and not by “infidel” medical personnel.

by MathPlus December 2, 2020

Kosong Math

Math titles that come with zero hints and solutions, which is usually a no-no or put-off even for above-average students, who want to study the solutions of brain-unfriendly questions to hone their mathematical problem-solving skills—“kosong” is the Malay word for zero.

It’s not surprising that no matter how creative or fertile the math questions in some kosong math books are, few teachers, much less parents or homeschoolers, are attracted to buying them, which is a double blow for both authors and publishers, which ought to know better that zero solutions often translates into low or no sales.

by MathPlus July 15, 2021

ippiteracy

When someone is not piterate, as they are unaware of falsehoods or white lies about the number π, which might elude even long-serving math teachers and exam-smart parents.

Common signs of ippiteracy among students and teachers are: π = 22/7, pi is defined in relation to a circle or limited to geometry, and π = 3 for biblical literalists.

by MathPlus September 10, 2021