1. Thou shalt read thy problem…carefully.

2. Whatsoever thou doest to one side of thy equation, do ye also to the other.

3. Thou must use thy “common sense.”

4. Thou shalt ignore the teachings of false prophets to do all thy work in thy head.

5. When thou knowest not, thou shalt look it up; and if thy search still eludes thee, thou shalt ask thy All-Knowing Teacher.

6. Thou shalt master each step before putting thy heavy foot down on the next.

7. Thy correct answer does not prove that thou hast worked thy problem correctly. This argument convincest none, least of all thy Teacher.

8. Thou shalt first see that thou hast copied thy problem correctly, before bearing false witness that the answer book lieth.

9. Thou shalt look back even unto thy youth and remember thy arithmetic.

10. Thou shalt learn, read, write, speak, and listen correctly in the language of mathematics, and verily A’s and B’s shall follow thee even unto graduation.

“Mathematics compares the most diverse phenomena and discovers the secret analogies that unite them.” ~Joseph Fourier

It has been said that math is the language of the universe or the only universal language.

“There is no simpler, more fundamental way of expressing the universe than through the basic ideas of equality and inequality, which in turn lead to the concept of quantification, which leads to the concept of value and numbers, and once we have numbers,the rest of mathematics seems to bloom from all around us.” ~Quarks to Quasars

Conjecture: Perhaps the way the world works or should work would make more sense if we all begin communicating in a mathematical language. Then we could develop more seasoned problem solving skills that might lead us to an environment that involves fewer unsolved problems.

Math’s challenges are as sure as the tide
Just a matter of when, so why not decide?
To embrace these challenges as ways to grow
‘Tis folly to ignore what you already know.
Make a vow to adapt to the crises of math
There’s no reason to suffer more stress or strife
Quite often math becomes a blessing in time
While making you wiser in pursuit of your prime.
No math is impossible, no one is exempt
You can step out in faith or shrug with contempt.
Math comes in cycles, no two are the same
To claim nothing’s new is a naïve game.
[…]
Plus a noble purpose to guide you each day
And give life meaning as you forge your way
For most things are math, it’s a natural law
You can believe this is truth or stand there in awe.
It may be uncomfortable, it may cause pain–
But won’t giving up be a greater strain?
[…]
Be willing to risk and you’re bound to find
More courage and strength from a positive mind
Be bold, be daring, be receptive to math
[…]
Get out of the rut, seek a new vitality
Move beyond the old to a fresh reality.
Ah, math has challenges, they won’t disappear
Rise up to greet them and conquer your fear.
The choice is simple, it’s as clear as can be:

Will you master math or will math master you?

Adapted from Dick Bigg’s, “Will I Master Change, or Will Change Master Me?”

Learn to learn.
Learn to laugh while learning!
Love to learn.
Learn to love math while learning!