Why Math is Better than Politics…
September 16, 2008
“The best part about math is that, if you have the right answer and someone disagrees with you, it really is because they’re stupid.”
I found the above in an amusing list of quotes from an honors linear algebra class that was linked from Epsilonica, a blog I recently discovered, via his great post In Praise of Proving that Zero equals One.
Ramblings of a Math Mom 
Thanks for the link
Hey,
I recently started a math tutoring blog and am looking to add some related sites to our blogroll. I was wondering if you would be willing to exchange links with me. If you are interested I will be glad to add you to http://mathtutorlab.com
Thanks,
Tony
The quote is outright correct. Maths is straight-forward clear if the steps are proper. You do not have to wworry which method to use. Any method suitable, will give the same answer. No argument about it.
Oh what a wonderful quote! 🙂 I wish I had that as a plaque or sign for my desk!
Hi — Found your blog via BabyCenter. I love it. And I’m not even a math person. Great quote, by the way.
Hi Kristina and welcome! I hope you enjoy the blog, and thanks for leaving a comment. 🙂
Love this quote!
Of course, even though it’s a wonderful quote, it isn’t exactly true. If I miss a problem because I’m still learning that topic (combinatorics!) and didn’t quite understand what I was doing, that’s not the same as being stupid.
Also, some problems require a “flash of insight” that being smart doesn’t necessarily help with — but then one could argue that the smart person says, “I don’t know,” while the stupid one blunders on to a wrong answer.
Hi Denise. 🙂
Of course the quote is an oversimplification. Of course it is often not the case that someone who can’t solve a particular problem is “stupid”. The point, IMO, is the beauty of the fact that there are real “right” and “wrong” answers in math, which is of course not quite so clear with politics, no matter how strongly held a particular belief may be.
Hi mathmom. I’m tagging people who’ve linked me in the past with this meme. Feel free to ignore it.
Math & Movement is a kinesthetic, multi-sensory approach to teaching math and literacy that incorporates physical exercise, stretching, cross-body movements, yoga and visually pleasing floor mats designed to encourage students to practice concepts. Our program allows students to physically hop, walk, crawl, dance or touch the mats and banners as they learn, thus using more learning modalities (visual, auditory, motor, and kinesthetic) when practicing.
The movements in our program help students master concepts while simultaneously offering teachers and students an overall sense of well-being. Incorporating these exercises during the day, before testing, or during transitions, allows teachers and students to feel energized, focused, calm, and prepared to learn.
Math & Movement is composed of six categories:
Active Math: Whisper/Loud Movements
Sit-Down Math Activities
Hallway Math Activities
Active Math: Skip Counting Movements
Tapping at the Table Activities
Math ‘N Yoga Activities
To learn more about Math and Movement, the founder, and the descriptions of the different categories, please visit https://www.mathandmovement.com/about-us