MathPlus's definitions

Negative Visualization

When you start wondering what would happen if you lost what you have, instead of uncritically thinking about all the things you want to achieve in life.

If only more people would practice negative visualization every now and then to take stock of what might go wrong in spite of their positive attitudes in taking risks in life, few would get hurt or burnt of their hard-earned money.

by MathPlus April 21, 2018

PAP Fever

When you are struck by Singapore’s efficient political system, run by the People’s Action Party (PAP), which bans all public protests, worker strikes, and riots, while you pretend not to know about the lack of political freedom and the “fear factor” felt by locals.

When visiting Singapore to learn more about its first-rate and quasi-incorruptible civil service, few political leaders from developing countries are immune to the PAP fever.

by MathPlus December 26, 2017

Imaginary Tales

Fictional stories or plots whose characters are the complex numbers or imaginary numbers—conversations among these once-ostracized numbers among mathematicians would allow listeners or readers to get intimate with their beautiful numerical properties.

Mrs. Jones thought that teaching complex numbers via imaginary tales might be a more interesting and creative way to introduce these “fictional numbers” to her students.

by MathPlus December 27, 2017

Battitude

The habit of coming out at night to prey on your victims, when they are more vulnerable to predators and less likely to identify and chase after them.

Jack has this battitude of pickpocketing old folks and tourists on weekends, at crowded night markets to reduce his chances of being caught.

by MathPlus April 24, 2018

The Four “F” Words in Math

FEAR of not understanding the new math concepts.

FRUSTRATION in struggling to make sense of the concepts.

FATIGUE from mental stress and emotional pain in grasping the concepts.

FAILURE in mastering and applying the concepts.

Winners have not only banned the four-letter F-word from their vocabulary when faced with the most disliked school subject, but they have also refused to let the four “F” words in math rent a space in their minds.

by MathPlus January 8, 2018

Make America White Again

When a racist and xenophobic political leader decries most non-white immigrants who landed in America as a bunch of AIDS carriers, lazy burgers, criminals, rapists, terrorists, or jobs stealers.

President Trump blames disloyal politicians and lawyers, who are defending millions of illegal or undocumented immigrants, because they threaten the lives of hardworking Americans—he wants to make America white again, by making it harder for black and colored peoples to seek a better life in the United States.

by MathPlus January 12, 2018

Awardising

When Singapore parents proudly (or boastfully) display their child’s “academic achievement” or “leadership or volunteering award” on Facebook to tell the world how “exam-smart,” “inspiring,” or “caring” he or she is—or maybe to boost their own fragile egos.

Besides showcasing on social media the exotic food they’ve partaken of, or the branded goods they’ve purchased, during their overseas trips, few vain Singaporeans would miss awardising their children’s school achievements, desiring to get dozens of likes from friends and fans.

by MathPlus May 3, 2018