Psuedomath vs. Mathematics
i.e. School math vs. What
mathematicians do
Jaivir Baweja- 15 year old
Psuedomath= School math
• (def’n)The mindless manipulation of symbols given a
certain formula:
−𝑏± 𝑏2 −4𝑎𝑐
.
2𝑎
• Solve for 𝑥, using quadratic formula 𝑥 =
(must
be memorized according to tests)
• 3𝑥 2 − 98𝑥 + 10 = 0
• Theorem 1. This is equivalent to school mathematics.
• Proof. See textbooks and the curriculum.
• Theorem 2. This is boring, and there is not even a problem
to solve.
• Proof. Look at the poor students; they can’t derive it
although they are very well capable of it!!
What mathematicians do
• Theorem 3. “A mathematician, like a painter
or poet, is a maker of patterns. If his patterns
are more permanent than theirs, it is because
they are made with ideas”.
• Proof. G.H. Hardy in A Mathematician’s
Apology
• Theorem 4. Mathematics is an art, and an
adventure of the mind.
• Proof. See next page.
An example of mathematics
• One of my recent works:
•Save me!-otherwise I
will be failed by the
stupid school math!!!!