User Joseph O'Rourke

86 votes

21 answers

25k views

Why are induction proofs so challenging for students?

asked Nov 18, 2015 at 16:32

46 votes

18 answers

12k views

How to explain the flipping of division by a fraction?

asked Apr 9, 2015 at 21:12

39 votes

12 answers

5k views

Beautiful planar geometry theorems not encountered in high school

asked Nov 15, 2019 at 23:49

35 votes

15 answers

9k views

Justifications for: Why learn mathematics?

asked May 10, 2015 at 21:07

29 votes

5 answers

1k views

Wonder as motivation

asked Mar 9, 2015 at 12:00

25 votes

1 answer

750 views

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

asked Apr 18, 2015 at 2:28

23 votes

9 answers

3k views

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

asked Jun 20, 2014 at 22:06

23 votes

2 answers

2k views

Can we avoid confusion over using "let" as a quantifier?

asked Feb 24, 2020 at 0:00

21 votes

3 answers

5k views

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

asked Jul 16, 2014 at 23:31

20 votes

4 answers

3k views

Does anyone teach logarithms via slide rules?

asked Jan 2, 2020 at 23:54

19 votes

5 answers

550 views

Against introducing precise definitions first

asked Sep 14, 2016 at 0:24

18 votes

5 answers

13k views

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

asked Aug 14, 2019 at 12:53

17 votes

6 answers

10k views

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

asked Feb 11, 2015 at 1:54

17 votes

11 answers

2k views

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

asked Mar 19, 2021 at 0:16

15 votes

5 answers

1k views

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

asked Apr 1, 2014 at 23:35

15 votes

6 answers

1k views

Iconic image to explain the fundamental theorem of calculus?

asked Oct 11, 2018 at 23:06

14 votes

4 answers

930 views

Proofs that make theorems less clear

asked Mar 13, 2016 at 0:27

13 votes

4 answers

422 views

Collaboration on math homework assignments?

asked Jan 4, 2016 at 17:26

13 votes

4 answers

1k views

Is Calculus Necessary?

asked Aug 11, 2017 at 14:10

12 votes

2 answers

253 views

Course-based undergraduate research experiences in math

asked Aug 19, 2016 at 12:44

12 votes

8 answers

822 views

How best to explain the logarithm to the mathematically naive?

asked May 24, 2015 at 23:43

11 votes

2 answers

290 views

How to motivate 'Theory of Computation'?

asked Oct 17, 2015 at 21:32

11 votes

11 answers

4k views

Ideas for explaining 4D and higher dimensions

asked Apr 5, 2020 at 23:43

10 votes

1 answer

272 views

College undergraduate geometry courses

asked Sep 20, 2020 at 1:07

10 votes

4 answers

915 views

Why are proofs by contradiction counterintuitive?

asked Sep 23, 2016 at 23:44

10 votes

0 answers

669 views

Use of Lockhart's Measurement in a course?

asked May 2, 2019 at 23:09

10 votes

1 answer

193 views

Motivation vs. Rigor

asked Jul 20, 2019 at 23:17

9 votes

5 answers

1k views

Motivation for polynomial long division

asked Sep 1, 2018 at 13:39

9 votes

2 answers

403 views

Fear of 3-dimensions

asked Feb 9, 2020 at 0:25

8 votes

1 answer

180 views

Multiplying two decimals using (camouflaged) binary representation

asked Jun 12, 2017 at 0:48

Stack Exchange Network

53 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

Can we avoid confusion over using "let" as a quantifier?

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

Does anyone teach logarithms via slide rules?

Against introducing precise definitions first

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

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

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

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

Iconic image to explain the fundamental theorem of calculus?

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?

How to motivate 'Theory of Computation'?

Ideas for explaining 4D and higher dimensions

College undergraduate geometry courses

Why are proofs by contradiction counterintuitive?

Use of Lockhart's Measurement in a course?

Motivation vs. Rigor

Motivation for polynomial long division

Fear of 3-dimensions

Multiplying two decimals using (camouflaged) binary representation