Math is best understood through a cartoonist’s mind. By reducing a mathematical concept down to its simplest idea, like how a cartoonist reduces faces down to their most striking features, we get a stronger foundation to understand it better. For example, although multiplication often makes number smaller (when you multiply by a number less than one), it’s better to simplify multiplication by saying it makes numbers larger. It’s because multiplication often makes numbers larger in practice as most people use numbers greater than one when multiplying. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
