The Singapore Mathematics Calendar

A math calendar à la Singapour, which is designed in such a way that the answer to the problem on each day is the date on which the question appears, aims to develop in children a positive attitude towards the world’s most disliked school subject—when they are exposed to the beauty and joy of math rather than seeing it as a mere drill-and-kill subject.

The Singapore Mathematics Calendar—which takes three or four times longer to write than a typical assessment (or supplementary) math title, and costs a few folds more in publishing it—is a first in Singapore math publishing, as it offers students a creative and fun way to learning math, while honing their problem-solving skills.

by Numerati November 25, 2024

mathematical plateau

It's the state of zen you reach as a mathematician / math enthusiast where formerly you 100% loved math, and now you currently hate it. This gives you a greater view of the mathematical landscape, because you're no longer over-studying, so the brain has ample time to recharge, and you learn quicker!

I've reached the mathematical plateau, fellow mathematicians. The view from here is nice.

by Yoda the Coda December 3, 2024

Mathematical Fraud

One who has achieved far beyond what his average or below-average mathematical intelligence could allow him to do, by lying, bullshitting, scheming, pretending, or backstabbing—the mathematical equivalent of a racist-rapist-turned-fraud-felon who got elected, rejected, and reelected despite all the odds against him.

Guesstimate how many mathematical frauds make it bigly in the publishing industry worldwide every year.

by Numerati December 6, 2024

Growth Mindset in Mathematics

The idea that math educators should focus on effort rather than on results—that failure is part of the success equation, because a set of false starts, failures, and frustrations are often necessary or unavoidable before someone could experience some degree of mathematical progress or achievement.

To fail is no shame, but failure to try again often is. A growth mindset in mathematics is to try or fail again, while failing better or faster each time.

by Numerati December 14, 2024

Mathematical Nap

When the aftermath of overworking with too much x's and y's make someone zzz when they doze or nod off.

Prof. Ziz’s mild snore got some mean colleagues take a shot of him having a mathematical nap, which was suspected to be filled with ƶ, ƶ², …, √ƶ, ℤ.

by Numerati December 16, 2024

Mathematical Purrfection

When educators who are cat lovers love to pose creative math questions—and mathematical quickies or trickies—that center around their pets (or “masters of the house”), or are attracted by real-life word problems that embrace the feline family.

Two brain-unfriendly questions that exhibit mathematical purrfection are:

1. At a Cats’ Café, how many cute kittens are there if there are 9 more legs than tails?

2. Guesstimate the average cat bill at the veterinarian over her lifestyle.

by Numerati June 18, 2025

Mathematical Do-ness

Forcing or motivating yourself to DO-ing some math to beat your daily laziness, especially if you are glued or addicted to your cell phone or digital device for an unhealthy number of hours every day.

Some mathematical do-ness activities that could help white-collar workers break away from their sedentary lifestyle are:

Walk exactly 6789 steps.

Create an origami geometric shape out of the newspaper.

Learn to do calculus—differentiate and integrate—with a soroban (Japanese abacus).

Count the number of ballpoint pens in your house.

by Numerati July 29, 2025