Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
Joseph O'Rourke
  • Member for 9 years, 8 months
  • Last seen this week
86 votes
21 answers
25k views

Why are induction proofs so challenging for students?

46 votes
18 answers
12k views

How to explain the flipping of division by a fraction?

39 votes
12 answers
5k views

Beautiful planar geometry theorems not encountered in high school

35 votes
15 answers
9k views

Justifications for: Why learn mathematics?

29 votes
5 answers
1k views

Wonder as motivation

25 votes
1 answer
750 views

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

23 votes
9 answers
3k views

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

23 votes
2 answers
2k views

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

21 votes
3 answers
5k views

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

20 votes
4 answers
3k views

Does anyone teach logarithms via slide rules?

19 votes
5 answers
550 views

Against introducing precise definitions first

18 votes
5 answers
13k views

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

17 votes
6 answers
10k views

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

17 votes
11 answers
2k views

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

15 votes
5 answers
1k views

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

15 votes
6 answers
1k views

Iconic image to explain the fundamental theorem of calculus?

14 votes
4 answers
930 views

Proofs that make theorems less clear

13 votes
4 answers
422 views

Collaboration on math homework assignments?

13 votes
4 answers
1k views

Is Calculus Necessary?

12 votes
2 answers
253 views

Course-based undergraduate research experiences in math

12 votes
8 answers
822 views

How best to explain the logarithm to the mathematically naive?

11 votes
2 answers
290 views

How to motivate 'Theory of Computation'?

11 votes
11 answers
4k views

Ideas for explaining 4D and higher dimensions

10 votes
1 answer
272 views

College undergraduate geometry courses

10 votes
4 answers
915 views

Why are proofs by contradiction counterintuitive?

10 votes
0 answers
669 views

Use of Lockhart's *Measurement* in a course?

10 votes
1 answer
193 views

Motivation vs. Rigor

9 votes
5 answers
1k views

Motivation for polynomial long division

9 votes
2 answers
403 views

Fear of 3-dimensions

8 votes
1 answer
180 views

Multiplying two decimals using (camouflaged) binary representation