Numerati's definitions

Tharmanomics

When economists observe that the fruit of choice among a large proportion of religious or superstitious folks is now the pineapple (which is offered as food to hungry ghosts or spiritual vagabonds, who have descended from hell to earth during the Hungry Ghost Festival or Seventh Month), thus making them hypothesize whether there is any correlation between the switch of fruit and Singapore’s newly elected President’s use of the pineapple symbol during his recent electoral campaign.

Would Tharmanomics last as long as the “fine” city’s ceremonial head of state remained in office, which could be a dozen years (if he’s re-elected after serving his first six-year term)?

by Numerati September 3, 2023

Pinergy

When the presence of the number π in a headline or image makes it more likely to be read even by someone who would normally have zero interest in the message.

Successful copywriters know that some pinergy in a copy could lure the readership by a few folds.

by Numerati December 8, 2023

Fight-or-Flight Math

When it is humanly understandable to give up instead of persevering when faced with a false start or failure in solving a math problem—when the pain-and-gain mindset is often missing among struggling or frustrated students, who mistakenly thought that only those blessed or born with the “mathematical gene” could do math.

Fight-or-flight math makes it hard for us to think clearly, logically, and reflexively. Let not negative emotions take control of our reactions.

by Numerati August 8, 2024

Mathematical Slowies

Non-trick or non-tricky math questions that you can do at your snail’s pace without worry or fear of having to sit for any killer test or exam—they are recommended for self-confessed folks who pride themselves of being “hopeless at math,” or not being born with the “math gene.”

Mathematical slowies are the opposite of “mathematical quickies,” which are generally solved with some insight, and often accompanied by an occasional aha! reaction.

by Numerati January 19, 2025

The Man Who Mistook Pi for Pie

When on hearing the sound of the number π, an autistic person or idiot savant thinks of a slice of a cake or pizza instead, or equates either word for something else that is unmistakably alien or paranormal.

Just as the man who mixed up his job for his life, Prof. Paulos, who mildly suffers from schizophrenia, occasionally sounds like the man who mistook pi for pie.

by Numerati December 28, 2023

Pivitude

Short for “Pi Servitude.” When fellow numerical constants and numerals are expected to posture to or serve the number π if they want to associate with or get closer to her.

Like a pampered cat, pi demands nothing but pivitude from those trying to court or seduce her.

by Numerati January 23, 2025

Meta-pi

When the number π perpetually ponders about “π”—whether she could forever command trust and respect among fellow numerical constants and in the mathematical community so that they would always think of her first.

Like e and 𝜙, π feels overworked and burned out. What are the odds that to some degree she’d be suffering from the meta-pi syndrome?

by Numerati January 17, 2025