Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Jun 23, 2011, 7:31 am
Today’s post is a guest-post by Barbara Jolie. I think you will find it interesting and inspiring. I did. It fits in well with the Math Mojo philosophy: This post is for all you math gurus out there who really love your field of study but are having trouble finding a practical place for that lov...
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Jun 13, 2011, 8:19 pm
This is a guest-post. I’ve never had a guest-post on the Math Mojo Chronicles before, but I’m open to anything that fits in with the Math Mojo Manifesto, and had real value for readers. Jeremy Fordham has written just such an article, and I’m happy to present it to you here: A Look at 9 Aweso...
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Apr 1, 2011, 10:50 pm
An interested reader asked: “Why is it that when you multiply a negative number by another negative number, you get a positive number? Is there any way to show this; any examples?” Professor Homunculus answers: I love this question because it makes so much sense. It makes sense to question the...
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Nov 10, 2010, 12:20 am
Today a thoughtful reader left a comment on a previous post (Why You Suck at math Pt. I) Dan Marks commented: Kids suck at math because their teachers only share the secret with the smart kids. Everybody know the ones who are successful wait until a blue moon in an odd-numbered month and drink p...
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Oct 9, 2010, 8:26 pm
The First ever KenKen Contest is going to be held on Oct 30, at the Chappaqua Library, in Westchester County, NY. Sign up for the First Ever KenKen Contest I wish I could be there, but I’ll be rallying for sanity (imagine that!) in Washington that day. Bone up on your KenKen at The Math Mojo Chr...
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Oct 3, 2010, 1:50 pm
Recently, an interested reader wrote in this question: Hi , I am doing a quiz and one of the questions asks what is the lowest number which divides evenly into 1,111,111. What is the way to find the answer? Is there some sort of formula? Thanks (hopefully!) - A Reader Professor Homunculus repl...
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Sep 16, 2010, 8:30 am
I just wanted to try this little experiment with readers. I came across this little problem recently, and I have to admit, it gave me pause. I wanted to know what readers think. Is this problem correct or incorrect, and why? (Please don’t answer just yes or no, withouth the “why,” OK?) Ple...
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Sep 14, 2010, 8:14 am
  A concerned parent wrote in: Hello, I was never very good at algebra. I managed to get by,and it has haunted me ever since. My daughter is in the eighth grade and wants my help with homework. Now, I feel really dumb, any suggestions. Thanks. Professor Homunculus replies: Thanks for your ques...
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Aug 27, 2010, 10:38 am
Photo by selma90 If  you’re a teacher, my condolences go out to you at the beginning of this semester. With the nation polarized concerning just about any issue, the hate- and fear-mongers have pounced on teachers with a sick, perverted glee. You may have the misfortune to have your local news...
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Aug 13, 2010, 12:45 pm
Recently I read this question online: The sum of two numbers is 91. And the difference is 31. What are the two numbers? The first  answer to it simply  gave the answer as,  “The two numbers are 66 and 25.” I think the whole thing is a waste of time for all concerned, so far. The asker has ...
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Jul 23, 2010, 10:20 pm
What is the difference between Fractions and Rational Numbers? Fractions and Integers A  fraction (common, or vulgar fraction) is a number that expresses part of a whole as a quotient of integers (in the form of m/n) where the denominator (divisor) is not zero.* OK, what’s a quotient of inte...
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Jul 22, 2010, 10:24 am
hah: Click here to enlarge image
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Jul 12, 2010, 4:35 pm
How could I resist this? It’s from http://www.caglecartoons.com
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Jul 10, 2010, 11:15 am
Ever obsess on something trivial when you know you have a ton of work due about an hour from yesterday? Here’s my obsession for today: In the last Math Mojo Monthly Newsletter (look up at the top in the left menu bar of this post to make sure you get it. It’s free, of course) I posed ...
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Jul 7, 2010, 4:13 pm
School Boards lowering passing grades Be warned that the video below is a George Carlin video, and is filled with some of “The Seven Dirty Words you can’t Say on TV” If you are offended by  raw language, please don’t watch it. Okay, now I’m mad. I’m reading an...
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Jul 7, 2010, 2:04 am
It depends on what the definition of “is” is. http://scienceblogs.com/goodmath/2009/12/what_is_math.php http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/52289.html mathematics-  Most people would say it has something to do with numbers, but numbers are just one type of mathematical structure...
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Jul 5, 2010, 4:55 pm
The cartoon below is similar to a small part of the method I teach in “Numbers Juggling – Times without the Tables” e-book and course (see http://learn2multiply.com) You can see a video of the method I teach here: http://www.learn2multiply.com/video-quickstart/ You’ll need...
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Jun 21, 2010, 8:35 am
If you’ve read much of Math Mojo, you’ll know I am an advocate for practicing basic skills until you know them “in your bones,” or “cold,” or “until you can do them in your sleep.” While listening to to the story “The Writer Who Couldn’t R...
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Jun 18, 2010, 10:43 pm
As many readers of the Math Mojo Chronicles know, my wife and I do the New York Times crossword puzzle together every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. You may also be aware that the Friday and Saturday NYT Crossword puzzles are harder than the Sunday puzzle. Sometimes much harder. I don’t know i...
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Jun 13, 2010, 9:22 pm
continued from the previous post – “Explaining Math Terminology”  (Please read that first in order to understand the points made here). Since I wrote the last post, I’ve come across more examples of  math terms that are incompletely, inadequately or misleadingly explained....
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Jun 6, 2010, 8:27 pm
This entry might be better titled, “The Power of Zero to Confuse Us.” (no, not Confucius!) A curious reader (the best kind!) asked: I have a math question: 8/ -m0 + n0 I cannot figure if it is 8 / 0 = 0 or 8/ -2 = -4. Please help me figure this problem out. Professor Homunculus repl...
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - May 16, 2010, 11:22 am
Can I choke him now? Photo by foxphotograpy (Edited by Brian) I have a book sitting in front of me called, Introduction to Mathematical Thinking by Friedrich Waismann; the foreword is by Karl Menger, both of whom I admire greatly. This book has opened my eyes to something very important about math...
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Apr 26, 2010, 5:16 pm
Paradox. Get it? Not much about math in this post. Just felt like telling this story… Today was paradoxical. It was like winter and like summer in one day. It was like winter, because even though it’s April 17, we woke up to snow. Not much, and it didn’t stick, but it was snow. ...
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Apr 23, 2010, 1:55 am
It was sometime before noon, when my wife and I heard a boink, boink somewhere in the house. What the…? A short investigation revealed that a female cardinal and her mate had perched upon a branch just beyond our second floor porch *. We think they may have had a baby or babies with them. Th...
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Apr 19, 2010, 10:52 pm
It was sometime before noon, when my wife and I heard a boink, boink somewhere in the house. What the…? A short investigation revealed that a female cardinal and her mate had perched upon a branch just beyond our second floor porch. We think they may have had a baby or babies with them. The ...
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Mar 2, 2010, 6:27 pm
Recently, inquiring readers six-year old (!) Julien and his Mom,  asked about Triangular Numbers: Hello, My son is currently working his way through The Number Devil (by Hans Magnus Enzenberger) and is enjoying it thoroughly. He was particularly happy about the triangular numbers in Chapter 5 bec...
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Mar 2, 2010, 6:27 pm
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Feb 26, 2010, 10:02 pm
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Feb 24, 2010, 7:20 am
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Feb 22, 2010, 7:50 pm
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Feb 5, 2010, 7:50 am
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Nov 27, 2009, 5:33 am
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Nov 15, 2009, 6:13 pm
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Nov 8, 2009, 10:47 pm
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Oct 23, 2009, 7:39 am
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Oct 21, 2009, 6:43 pm
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Oct 15, 2009, 7:26 pm
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Oct 12, 2009, 1:09 pm
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Sep 26, 2009, 4:20 pm
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Sep 21, 2009, 1:05 pm
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Sep 19, 2009, 12:14 pm
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Sep 14, 2009, 12:12 am
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Sep 12, 2009, 6:43 pm
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Sep 5, 2009, 5:15 pm
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Sep 4, 2009, 3:21 pm
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Aug 30, 2009, 5:30 pm
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Aug 22, 2009, 11:29 am
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Mathmojo posted an article on The Math Mojo Chronicles - Jul 27, 2009, 5:04 pm
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