User Joseph O'Rourke

82 votes

21 answers

24k views

Why are induction proofs so challenging for students?

asked Nov 18, 2015 at 16:32

44 votes

18 answers

11k views

How to explain the flipping of division by a fraction?

asked Apr 9, 2015 at 21:12

37 votes

12 answers

5k views

Beautiful planar geometry theorems not encountered in high school

asked Nov 15, 2019 at 23:49

34 votes

15 answers

9k views

Justifications for: Why learn mathematics?

asked May 10, 2015 at 21:07

28 votes

5 answers

1k views

Wonder as motivation

asked Mar 9, 2015 at 12:00

24 votes

1 answer

709 views

Is there a Piagetian age at which proofs can be comprehended?

asked Apr 18, 2015 at 2:28

22 votes

9 answers

3k views

"A computer program IS a proof": Introducing rigor via programming

asked Jun 20, 2014 at 22:06

20 votes

3 answers

5k views

Pedagogical challenge: Homeomorphic vs. Homotopy equivalent vs. Homologous?

asked Jul 16, 2014 at 23:31

20 votes

2 answers

1k views

Let P be a polygon

asked Feb 24, 2020 at 0:00

19 votes

4 answers

3k views

Does anyone teach logarithms via slide rules?

asked Jan 2, 2020 at 23:54

18 votes

5 answers

530 views

Against introducing precise definitions first

asked Sep 14, 2016 at 0:24

17 votes

5 answers

12k views

What is the most difficult concept to grasp in Calculus 1?

asked Aug 14, 2019 at 12:53

16 votes

11 answers

2k views

Natural occurrences of a to the (b to the c)?

asked Mar 19, 2021 at 0:16

16 votes

6 answers

9k views

Explanation for cutting a Möbius strip at one-third its width

asked Feb 11, 2015 at 1:54

15 votes

6 answers

1k views

Iconic image to explain the fundamental theorem of calculus?

asked Oct 11, 2018 at 23:06

15 votes

5 answers

926 views

Should the cross-product in $\mathbb{R}^3$ be discussed in Linear Algebra?

asked Apr 1, 2014 at 23:35

14 votes

4 answers

908 views

Proofs that make theorems less clear

asked Mar 13, 2016 at 0:27

13 votes

4 answers

404 views

Collaboration on math homework assignments?

asked Jan 4, 2016 at 17:26

13 votes

4 answers

991 views

Is Calculus Necessary?

asked Aug 11, 2017 at 14:10

12 votes

2 answers

240 views

Course-based undergraduate research experiences in math

asked Aug 19, 2016 at 12:44

12 votes

8 answers

775 views

How best to explain the logarithm to the mathematically naive?

asked May 24, 2015 at 23:43

11 votes

11 answers

4k views

Ideas for explaining 4D and higher dimensions

asked Apr 5, 2020 at 23:43

11 votes

2 answers

284 views

How to motivate 'Theory of Computation'?

asked Oct 17, 2015 at 21:32

10 votes

1 answer

245 views

College undergraduate geometry courses

asked Sep 20, 2020 at 1:07

10 votes

4 answers

877 views

Why are proofs by contradiction counterintuitive?

asked Sep 23, 2016 at 23:44

10 votes

0 answers

617 views

Use of Lockhart's Measurement in a course?

asked May 2, 2019 at 23:09

9 votes

5 answers

1k views

Motivation for polynomial long division

asked Sep 1, 2018 at 13:39

9 votes

1 answer

178 views

Motivation vs. Rigor

asked Jul 20, 2019 at 23:17

9 votes

2 answers

401 views

Fear of 3-dimensions

asked Feb 9, 2020 at 0:25

8 votes

1 answer

177 views

Multiplying two decimals using (camouflaged) binary representation

asked Jun 12, 2017 at 0:48

Stack Exchange Network

51 Questions

Why are induction proofs so challenging for students?

How to explain the flipping of division by a fraction?

Beautiful planar geometry theorems not encountered in high school

Justifications for: Why learn mathematics?

Wonder as motivation

Is there a Piagetian age at which proofs can be comprehended?

"A computer program IS a proof": Introducing rigor via programming

Pedagogical challenge: Homeomorphic vs. Homotopy equivalent vs. Homologous?

Let P be a polygon

Does anyone teach logarithms via slide rules?

Against introducing precise definitions first

What is the most difficult concept to grasp in Calculus 1?

Natural occurrences of a to the (b to the c)?

Explanation for cutting a Möbius strip at one-third its width

Iconic image to explain the fundamental theorem of calculus?

Should the cross-product in $\mathbb{R}^3$ be discussed in Linear Algebra?

Proofs that make theorems less clear

Collaboration on math homework assignments?

Is Calculus Necessary?

Course-based undergraduate research experiences in math

How best to explain the logarithm to the mathematically naive?

Ideas for explaining 4D and higher dimensions

How to motivate 'Theory of Computation'?

College undergraduate geometry courses

Why are proofs by contradiction counterintuitive?

Use of Lockhart's Measurement in a course?

Motivation for polynomial long division

Motivation vs. Rigor

Fear of 3-dimensions

Multiplying two decimals using (camouflaged) binary representation