Tag Archives: CHRISTmaths

Christmaths with Trump

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While the world is anxiously waiting what “Christmas (or Cliff-mas!) gift” North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has reserved for President Trump, with the two rogue leaders now having revived their name-calling game, and as the world witnesses the impeachment trial of the Liar-in-Chief, how can math educators nevertheless use the caustic and divisive political climate in the US to spice their enrichment or recreational math lessons? How can they generate some mathematical positives from the many political and moral negatives?

A few Christmases ago, I wrote Christmaths: A Creative Problem Solving Math Book, which looks at some parallels between the king of public holidays and the queen of sciences. And now thanks to Donald Trump, his narcissistic, racist, and supremacist behaviors and tweets continue to provide thousands of math teachers worldwide fertile fodder to link math to politics.

The Mathematics of Trump

For many of us living outside the US, who are agnostic about the political views of both Democrat and Republican politicians, it’s hard not to poke fun at American [Trump?] politics.

Below are a sample of published entries, which irreverently looks at some parallelisms between Trump and Math.

Meet the Pinocchio-in-Chief

From Trumpworthy Math, I went on to define two units for measuring falsehood: tru and Pinocchio.

Pinocchio

A unit for measuring how far or how much a politician, dictator, or businessperson is lying to an oft-gullible public—named after a marionette with a long nose, the picture of a dishonest person.

Trump’s denial of having sex with an adult entertainer, while his wife was still pregnant, is at least six Pinocchios.

by MathPlus October 31, 2018

Lies, White Lies, and Statistics

True or False

(a) Politifact: “76 percent of Trump’s statements were false or mostly false.”

(b) Politico: “Trump told a lie every three minutes and fifteen seconds.”

What is a Trump Number?

Below is one of the two published definitions of a “Trump Number,” which had evaded me for some time, because I just couldn’t nail down a description, without too much falsehood or exaggeration.

Based on your knowledge or readings about Donald Trump, how would you define a “Trump Number”?

The “C” Word Among Atheists and Islamists

Two Christmases ago, when President Trump boasted how he restored the spirit of Christmas among those who worship the King of kings, I coined War on Christmas.

War on Christmas

When conservatives and President Trump have had enough of the political correctness by Democrats that people should say “Happy Holidays” and not “Merry Christmas.”

President Trump is hell-bent on winning the war on Christmas, who bragged that under him Americans can now freely and proudly say “Merry Christmas”—they shouldn’t be hijacked by atheists and Islamists in sharing Christmas greetings to others.

by MathPlus December 25, 2017

And last Christmas, I christened the following:

Trumpmas

The name Donald Trump would have Christened Christmas if he could have his way—after all, every day, the media unfailingly have something un-Christian to write about him, since he miraculously became the US President.

Those working under him long for the day when Trumpmas would turn into Christmas—probably they’ve to wait until they resign or get fired by the president.

by MathPlus December 23, 2018

The Existence or Nonexistence of Santa Claus

Following the Christmas phone call between the US President and a lucky child last year, I coined the following:

And that presidential “child-unfriendly” phone call prompted me to pose the following Christmaths question:

Santa’s Proof

Santa Claus (🎅): “Children don’t exist.”

Prove or disprove whether Father Santa is correct or not.

Wrapping a Christmas Present à la Trump 🌲🎉🎊🎄

On November 13, 2017, I tweeted the following:

“Nothing” for Christmas

The Gift of Nothing: When you go shopping and could find nothing to buy as a gift for your best friend or loved ones, why not give them the gift of nothing, because nothing is not for sale? Put nothing in a big box and give it to them. #nothing #zero #gift

Last Christmas Eve, I coined Trumpgifting:

Immoral Math: Quid-Pro-Quo Math, Barr Math, and Mueller Math

With some exaggeration and irreverence, it’s not too difficult to coin some mathematical words or phrases based on how President Trump and his oft-ethically challenged administration misrule the country.

Green Math: Trump’s Climate Hoax

With Donald Trump dumping the Paris Agreement for his personal political agenda, math and science teachers could play their part in educating students about the long-term consequences of the president’s selfish unscientific decision.

Fake Father Christmas

On April 13, 2019, I tweeted the following:

Fake Christmas: What are the odds that President Trump’s hypothesis that global climate change is a hoax could speed up the first Christmas summer in the US or EU? Or when fake Xmas trees permeate the homes? #Christmas #Christmaths #weather #climate #Singapore #math #humor 🌲🔢

The Sharpie Pen and Christmas Cards 🎅 🎄 ✉️

Guesstimate how many Christmas cards (and their envelopes) you can use with a Sharpie pen.

Estimate how long a line you can draw with a Sharpie pen.

If each person sent an average of 30 Christmas cards, how long would the Sharpie pen last them? Three years?

Trump’s Greetings Cards

Last December, to resurrect the lost art of sending Christmas or greetings cards, I coined the following slogan:

Make America Greet Again

Bringing back printed greeting cards as in the good old days before the advent of e-cards —when sending personalized cards meant so much to both senders and receivers.

This festive season, Trump supporters want their president to pass an executive order to ban those working in the US government to send e-cards, as this virtual way of greetings is “robotic” and “dehumanizing”—they want to make America greet again.

by MathPlus December 02, 2018

Guesstimate how many millions of greetings cards would be sent every year in the United States if President Trump were to pass his executive order on banning Christmas e-cards.

BC & AD: Restoring Year Zero

Discuss the social, economic, and political implications if the world were to switch to a “Trumpian calendar.”

Pi Exposition

One way for math educators to poke fun at the disturbingly obscene number of ethically challenged senators in exposing their moral hypocrisy to condone or defend the wrongs of a morally bankrupt president is through the irrational and transcendental number pi.

Or, even evangelical Trump supporters voters who refused to acknowledge or right his moral and political wrongs shouldn’t be let off the hook for condoning or exonerating the sins of a “statistical president.”

Prove that the biblical value of pi, as mentioned in 1 Kings 7:23 and 2 Chronicles 4:2, is 3.

The Aftermath of Christmas

Estimate how many people each year suffer food poisoning after eating Christmas leftovers. About half a million?

Roughly how many unhappy people return their unwanted Christmas presents on Boxing Day (and come home with discounted items)?

A Christmas Gift for Trump

Let me end with two Trump-friendly entries I submitted two months ago:

Blessed Christmas (and Merry Christmaths)!

Bibliography & References

‘Dotage of a dotard’: North Korea renews attack on Donald Trump https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-50682235

North Korean missile and Kim Jong-un’s ‘Christmas gift’ decision https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-50654146

Trump to boy: Do you believe in Santa? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46678124

Donald Trump has now said more than 10,000 untrue things https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/29/politics/donald-trump-lies-washington-post/index.html

Pullen, M. (2013). The completely useless guide to Christmas. London: John Blake Publishing Ltd.

Yan, K. C. (2016). Christmaths. Singapore: MathPlus Publishing.

© Yan Kow Cheong, December 7, 2019.

An ideal Christmas gift for math lovers!

Durian Math

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In Singapore, the durian is officially the only tropical fruit that is banned inside a public train or bus—to critics, it smells worse than urine combined with a pair of used socks.

Presently, transport officials are likely to confiscate the notorious fruit should someone be found conspicuously with it, until recurring public complaints force politicians to implement a fine for those caught carrying one in forbidden places.

If anyone in Singapore can be fined for failing to flush a public toilet, it’s not far-fetched to expect a penalty in a-not-too-distant future for those who inconsiderately propagate the pungent aroma of durians among Singaporeans.

A proof that Singapore is a “fine” city.

Dubbed the “King of fruits” by locals, enjoying the durian is arguably an acquired taste; however, it may cause premature death when eaten together with some types of food or drinks—check this out with your doctor to avoid going to the other side of eternity sooner than later.

For math educators who can’t stand the pungent smell of durian, much less taste it, how can they creatively make use of this much-loved or much-disliked fruit in their mathematics teaching?

Below is a definition of Durian Math I submitted to Urban Dictionary half a year ago.

Christmaths Guesstimation

In the aftermath of a church in Sarawak, Malaysia erecting a Christmas durian tree, the following estimation questions crossed my mind:

1. Guesstimate the number of durians that were used to make the Christmas tree depicted below.

A durian Christmas tree at a church in Sarawak, Malaysia. Source: @nobisha by norizan sharif on 25/12/18

2. Estimate how much the durian business in Malaysia meant for the China market is worth every year.

3. Estimate how many durians a ten-hectare durian plantation could produce every year.

4. What percentage of the Asian population love to eat the pungent-smelly durian?

Singapore Math and Durian

Below are two irreverent tweets I posted to poke fun at the notoriety of the durian among fruit lovers, who are often tickled by durianians who wouldn’t think twice about forking out more than fifty bucks for one über-smelly durian.

Modeling with Durian

1. Math Trail à la Durian

Make a short trip to Malaysia or Thailand during the peak durian season. Try to get hold of a dozen-odd types of durian from the local market or some durian plantations owners. Compare their prices, weights, textures, pH levels, smells, or tastes; and make some conjectures based on nasal, oral, and tactile factors. Does the number of spikes of some durian type exhibit Fibonacci-like behaviors?

2. Death by Durian

Model how many “durian bombs” pseudo-jihadists planning a terrorist hoax in some public places like a college campus or shopping mall would need to simulate some panic or irrational fear among the undergraduates or shoppers.

What are the odds that one of Singapore’s neighboring frenemies could one day use the durian as a low-tech weaponry to neutralize her, just as man-made haze pollution from unfriendly neighbors could potentially be weaponized to suffocate an entire nation?

3. A “Fine” Durian

Imagine that you have been assigned to draft a set of rules that would penalize those caught with durians in forbidden public areas in Singapore. Model a “fines guideline” that wouldn’t unfairly punish those who selfishly insist on polluting their milieux with the nose-unfriendly smell of durians.

New Year, New Entries

On a more positive or non-apocalyptic note, for this new year, some of you might wish to redefine Durian Math or add a new twist to it, as you discover new ways to infuse the term in your math lessons.

A blessed New Year 2019 to all math educators around the world.

Esplanade Theatre—Singapore’s “The Durian.” Photo source: visitsingapore.com

Bibliography & References

Church in Malaysia creates durian Christmas tree http://bit.ly/2CyThI0

Chinese funds fuelling boom in Malaysia’s durian plantations http://bit.ly/2Lz9pMj

Rotten durian causes Melbourne university evacuation http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-43940122

Singapore scientists reveal origins of durian’s pungent aroma http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-41563300

© Yan Kow Cheong, January 2019.

The 12 Problems of CHRISTmaths

Mathematical Humor, Problem Solving, Recreational Math, Singapore Math, Theomatics, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Vintage Christmas—Just like Baby Jesus two millennia ago! Vintage Christmas—Just like Baby Jesus two millennia ago!

Christmas is a golden and joyful opportunity for number enthusiasts and math geeks to sharpen their creative mathematical problem-solving skills.

Here are 12 CHRISTmaths cookies that may help you shake your brain a little bit in the midst of Christmas festivities.

Warning: Refrain from forwarding this post to relatives or friends living in countries, which are intolerant of Christmas and Christianity, such as Brunei, Saudi Arabia, and Somalia, as it’s haram for “infidels” to take part in any kind of Christmas celebrations. And I assume that includes reading any on-line materials deemed un-Islamic or un-Mohammedan, which might lead believers astray from the faith.

1. Unlucky Turkeys

Estimate the number of turkeys that make their way to the supermarkets every year.

2. A Xmas Candy

Mary wanted to buy a candy that costs 25 cents. A dated vending machine would take one-cent, five-cent, and ten-cent coins in any combination. How many different ways can she use the coins to pay for the candy?

Christmastize your code!Remember to scan your Christmas item!

3. The Dimensions of a  Cross

A square of side 25 cm has four of its corners cut off to form a cross. What is the perimeter of the cross?

4. The Number of Crossings

Two lines can cross one time, three lines three times, four lines six times, and five lines ten times. If there are 25 lines, what would be the maximum number of crossings be?

5. An Eco-Xmas

If all instances of the word “CHRISTMAS” were replaced with “XMAS,” how much ink and paper (or Xmas trees) could you save every year? How much money could be channelled back to feeding the poor and the hungry during the festive season?

XMaths Tech© T. Gauld’s You’re all just jealous of my jetpack (2013)

6. Number of Xmas Cards

In an age of Xmas e-cards and video cards, how many Christmas greetings cards are still being sent worldwide? How many trees are being saved every festive season?

7. Does Xmas! have 25 digits?

1! = 1, 2! = 1 × 2 = 2, 5! = 1 × 2 × 3 × 4 × 5 = 120—a 3-digit number, and 10! = 1 × 2 ×⋯× 10 = 3,628,800—a 7-digit number.

(a) Without a calculator, how would you verify whether the number 25! has precisely 25 digits or not.

(b) Which positive integers n (other than the trivial case n = 1) for which n! has exactly n digits?

GST with no thanks to Father XmasGST (or VAT) with no thanks to Father Xmas

8. Xmas Trees

Guesstimate how big a forest would 25 million Christmas trees occupy.

9. Folding papers

Fold a single piece of paper perfectly in half, from left to right. How many creases will there be after the 25th fold, when you continue folding so that all the rectangles are folded into two halves each time?

10. Pre-Xmas Tax

Imagine Singapore were to implement a pre-Christmas tax on all kinds of Christmas marketing before the first week of December. Estimate how many extra million dollars would the Income Tax department collect every festive season.

Folding a Santa Claus© Anonymous Folding a Santa Claus

11. A Xmas Quickie or Toughie

What is the sum of the last two digits of 1! + 2! + 3! +⋯+ 24! + 25!?

12. An Ever-Early Xmas

Show that as one celebrates more and more Christmases (or, as one gets older and wiser), Christmas seems to come earlier every year.

Xmas Möbius Strips Christmas Möbius Strips

References

Gould T. (2013). You’re all just jealous of my jetpack. New York: Drawn & Quarterly.

Yan, K.C. (2011). Christmaths: A creative problem solving math book. Singapore: MathPlus Publishing.

Zettwoch, D., Huizenga, J., May, T. & Weaver, R. (2013). Amazing facts… & beyond! with Leon Beyond. Minneapolis: Uncivilized Books.

A Xmas Bonus: 25 CHRISTmaths Toughies from Singapore ?? http://tinyurl.com/q9w3ne9

 

Selected Hints & Answers

2. 12 ways. Hint: Make an organized list.

3. 100 cm. 

4. 300 crossings.

5. About 30 million gallons of ink, 500 square miles of paper, and $15 trillion could be saved.

6. Hint.

7. (b) n = 22, 23, 24.

9. 225 – 1.

11. 4.

12. Hint: Why as one gets older, time appears to fly faster.

2012-12-21 23.13.28

© Yan Kow Cheong, December 25, 2015.

 

17 Theomatical Haikus for Math Educators

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Composing some Theomatics-related haikus may prove therapeutic for stressful math educators, who are prone to overusing their left part of the brain. Why not let these 17-syllabled verses reactivate some atrophied part of your grey matter? Who knows? This right-brained activity may indirectly help rekindle your mathematical creativity!

The Trinity

The True Living God
Ever Three and ever One
A mystery, indeed!

Christ And Mathematics Education (C.A.M.E)

Come to worship Him
Christ and math education
Join ACMS

Theomatics, Anyone?

Teach math Christianly 
As an act of true worship
It sure honors Him

Picture

Two Conference Proceedings of the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences (ACMS)

Pi in the Sky

The Biblical pi
Is a rational number
From the Book of Kings

π = 3.14 and John 3:16

So close, yet so far
Rational and eternal
The union is null.

The X-tian Pi

The true Christian life
Is like the contextual pi
Constantly changing

Picture

The molten sea as described in 1 Kings 7:23. © The Golem Press

CHRISTmaths

Learning math with God
It’s time to take up your cross
To shake up your brain

Picture

facebook.com/CHRISTmaths

A Divine Paradox

100 percent man
And 100 percent God, too
What a paradox!

God’s Nature

The nature of God
1 + 1 + 1 (mod 2)
Same, yet different

The Most Quoted Verse

What’s John 3:16?
God’s numerical message
Of His Love for us

Picture

A treat for the mind, the eyes, and the spirit

 

Singapore Math

The Model Method
A blessed strategy
For problem solvers

TIMSS & PISA

A little red dot
Has blessed math educators
From all walks of life

Our Servant Math

In one God we serve
May His Spirit guide us
To make math serve us

The Mathematical Book of Life

Conjectures and Proofs
The Great Mathematician
Will bless you with both

Picture

2 Kings 3:16 Calligraphy by Andrzej Kot (Poland)

What’s Prayer?

When illogic reigns
When 1 + 1 is not 2
When naught can be one

One Life, Two Unions

One plus one is one.
Then, one plus one turns to 3.
One plus one turns nought.

Primes & Priests

Both are hard to find.
They hold the key to success.
Have faith in them both!

Picture

Calligraphy by Hermann Zapf (Germany)

 

Reference

Yan, K. C. (2011). Mathematical haikus for Kiasus. www.singaporemathplus.com

© Yan Kow Cheong, May 18, 2013.