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Numerati's definitions

The Amazonification of Singapore Math

When writers-mathepreneurs keen on leveraging on the Singapore math brand are ever grateful to Amazon’s print-on-demand services, which allows them to self-publish their oft-half-edited manuscripts, which were rejected by 99.99% of educational publishers.
The Amazonification of Singapore math and the low interest or investment in AI technologies have led some once-leading publishers to drop from hero to zero until it’s too late for them to do anything.
by Numerati December 30, 2024
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The Half-Life of Singapore Math

The time it takes for the bar model method, the heart and soul of Singapore math, to become a common feature in most math curriculums around the world, which implicitly means that it no longer holds the competitive edge over other developed nations in math education.
With pirates from both developing and developed countries leveraging on AI, the half-life of Singapore math is getting exponentially shorter, and the “fine” city of Singapore risks being innovated away if local math educators don’t act now.
by Numerati January 8, 2025
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Wasan

The native Japanese mathematics that was developed independently during the Edo period (1603–1868)—when Japan was isolated from the rest of the world, and when math was enjoyed as a pastime by both adults and children, and by folks of all social classes.
Wasan was replaced by its Western counterpart after the start of the Meiji era (1868–1912)—when Japan opened up to the West, and local scholars started adopting Western mathematical techniques.
by Numerati September 12, 2023
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Piranoia

When the number π can’t forget or let go of all the things she sees, hears, and does—all the memories, good and bad, haven’t stopped haunting her to the point of affecting her mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.
Her piranoia had fellow mathematical constants e and φ worried that she might do something that could endanger her life.
by Numerati January 1, 2025
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Swiftie Math

Also known as the numerology of Taylor Swift, which revolves around the number 13. From Taylor’s birthdate to her flight from Tokyo to Super Bowl 58 (5 + 8 = 13)—a trip that would take her approximately 13 hours—to attend her 13th NFL game this season, which is taking place on February 11 (2 + 11 = 13) with the Kansas City Chiefs facing the San Francisco 49ers (4 + 9 = 13). Also, adding her ubiquitous 13 to her boyfriend Travis’s #87 Chiefs’ jersey yields the perfect score 100.
Swiftie math provides math teachers worldwide a golden opportunity to expose millions of oft-math-anxious students-Swifties to the pseudoscience of numbers.
by Numerati February 11, 2024
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Mathematical Asylum

When people apply to become permanent residents or citizens of another country, because they continually face job discrimination from both local and foreign employers, or from their own elitist government—the good jobs are given to those who were born or blessed with the “mathematical gene.”
Like millions of asylum seekers from developing countries and theocratic states, who fear discrimination for being gay or a woman in their country of origin, what are the chances that in a-not-too-distant future, math-anxious or mathematically challenged folks might also apply for mathematical asylum to live in some anti-multicultural or anti-woke societies?
by Numerati September 26, 2023
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π%

The unverifiable percentage of time oft-morally bankrupt or mathematically challenged politicians while in office have pretended or perceived to put people first before profits. Or the hopeful probability that the souls of billionaires and multimillionaires worldwide could be saved before their last heartbeat.
The statistical percentage the Commander in Cheat was caught telling the truth, especially before victims of natural calamities, or when meeting with rogue heads of state, is estimated to be less than π%.
by Numerati July 10, 2025
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