Numerati's definitions

Wokie Pi

When the number π is aware of injustice and discrimination against other fellow mathematical constants that have not got the same opportunity or media coverage as her, but she is indifferent to all that because speaking up and out about these issues or biases is not to her benefit.

Wokie pi doesn’t want to rock the mathematical boat that has ferried her to so many areas of interest patronized by mathematicians and math educators.

by Numerati December 25, 2024

The Zero Factor

When society judges people whether they are successful or not by the number of zeros they have accumulated in their bank accounts—when hundredaires and thousandaires are normally overlooked and looked down while millionaires and billionaires are noticed and respected (or even worshipped).

What differentiates the rich and the famous from the poor and the notorious on this side of heaven is not just the fear factor but also the zero factor.

by Numerati December 26, 2024

Bar Modeling

The mathematical equivalent of a child riding a tricycle before switching to a bicycle, or using a float while learning to swim—using bar diagrams instead of forming algebraic equations to solve word problems.

Bar modeling, which is the heart and soul of the Singapore math curriculum, acts a bridge between elementary (or primary) math and middle school (or secondary) math—where concrete rectangles or bars are used instead of abstract variables for unknown quantities.

by Numerati December 28, 2024

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

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

A Pi-Free Math Book

The mathematical equivalent of a meeting-free day or passport-less travel. When the sight of the symbol π is enough to trigger panic or paranoia among billions of folks worldwide, who think they weren’t born or blessed with the “math gene.”

Just as a math book without equations or formulas could raise the sales figures by a few folds, a pi-free math book could give thousands of math-anxious folks more confidence in picking up a pop math book without feeling unduly stressed.

by Numerati January 2, 2025

Pi Needs You!

A humanist manifesto that brings together mathematicians and math educators around the globe to promote the message that math, in particular pi, must be humanized and inclusive rather than indifferent and elitist.

In an age of AI, where machines could spread π misinformation and disinformation, it’s of paramount importance that movements like “Pi Needs You!” reside in the mathematical consciousness of an oft-semi-innumerate lay public.

by Numerati January 5, 2025