Early one semester, I was going over the Policy Sheet with one of my new classes. I noted the phone number among my contact information, giving them permission to use it, if needed, during reasonable hours (reminding them of my age). As I often did, I pitched out the line, “the number’s easy to remember because the last four digits form the 4th perfect number! I actually requested that number”
I waited for the groans and eye-rolls I knew were coming, and, of course I got them. But this time, I also heard a young lady on the front row mutter, “GET a life!” I couldn’t help inwardly grinning.
It’s true that, in those classes of mostly math-phobic future elementary teachers, I partially cultivated that persona. The goal was to get them to lighten up a little, as well as to see that some folks DO love math – or at least numbers.
On the other hand, I am aware ‘number enthusiasts’ can sometimes go over the top and become ‘number weirdos’. So, as a service, and a hopefully humorous diversion, I thought I’d help us delineate that difference. I have prepared a Top Ten List, entitled Top Ten Signs You Might Have Become A Number Weirdo.
A quick detour (skip if you must). You should know there is also a distinction between ‘math type’ and ‘number enthusiast’ as well. Certainly, they are often the same. (I am both, e.g.) But not always. Some math lovers aren’t particularly that fond of boring numbers themselves. And, conversely, there are folks who love numbers and their properties, but who aren’t all that into more serious mathematics. It’s really an important distinction (related to my frequent ‘math and arithmetic are not the same’ screed) but there’s no need to digress further today.
So, without further ado, here are the Top Ten Signs You Might Be A Number Weirdo.
10. Your personalized license plate reads MATH-4U
9. When practicing social distancing, you insist on ‘two meters’ space rather than ‘six feet’.
8. You tee off in golf, and instead of yelling “FORE!”, you yell “ROOT 16″
7. As a conversation starter, you ask folks how many digits of PI they’ve memorized.
6. If you’re male, one of your favorite pickup lines in your younger days was “You look just like Sonia Kovalevsky” (one of the earliest women mathematicians).
5. When someone passes age 23, you say they are past their PRIME.
4. You’ll drive 5 miles out of your way to watch the odometer reach a palindrome. And then you stop to take a picture to send to your ‘friends’.
3. You work with Santa to leave “I Love Math” pencils in all the Christmas stockings. Every year.
2. You rake all the Autumn leaves into a huge symbol of PI, then burn them like that to emblazon PI it into your lawn.
And the number one reason you may be a math/number weirdo:
1. You ask your doctor to report your cholesterol numbers in base 12 because it looks better.
My wife said I should add ‘Your favorite day of the year is Pi Day (3/14)’, but then, that’s not really weird, is it? Isn’t everyone’s?! (Actually, it’s only my second favorite day).
Minor confession: From the list above, I am or have been guilty of four of the items. Ouch. So, your parting quiz for today: Which four? (Bonus quiz: My favorite day?) Responses welcome.
Hopefully, today’s thoughts have provided a nice diversion from the real world for a while. Please stay safe. And, in the meantime, keep an eye on that odometer!
Favorite day… (ED NOTE: temporarily edited out 🙂). The (ALSO edited out temporarily) day of the year. Which is also the day you tried to convince me to plan my wedding.
Hi Tara!! Great to hear from you as always! Hope you’re safe and well!
Good memory!! Suggest you plan your wedding on that day?! Surely I wouldn’t have done that! Though, it does sound like me, eh? (And I have this vaguest memory you may be right.)
Stay safe!
LC
Just four? I thought you’d be ‘guilty’ of all to some degree! And i say that with kindness and admiration.
Okay…10,9,4,and 3.
but ‘all’ stockings, ‘every’ year??
Maybe it’s 2…i’d kinda like to try that one myself!
Hi Christine!
HA! I love it. I actually do take that as a compliment of sorts. 🙂
Since this is a post that all could theoretically see, I’ll say this much (and perhaps follow up in a separate e-mail.) You have ‘some’ of them correct!! (Remembering that in math, at least, ‘some’ means ‘at least one’.)
And, I’ll also say yes – every (family) stocking, every year!
Stay safe!
Larry
Before I read Christine’s comment, I had already identified numbers 10,3 and 4 as yours and I would guess #8 as well. Is par
your score ??
Hi Frank!!
As I did on Christine’s post, I will also say to you that you have some (at least one) of them correct.
And no, I can’t shoot par. I shot a 78 once . . . but the back nine was worse than that! 🙂
Stay safe!
Larry
In Australia, the “rule” for social distancing is 4 square meters.
Love it!! Thanks for the info (it may turn into a brain teaser for next time! 🙂 ). Hope all is well.
Larry
So I have to ask, were the last four digits of your phone number 8128? (I had to look up perfect numbers.)
Hi Barb!! YES – you are right!! Good to hear from you again.
Larry
I am pretty sure about 10, 4 and 3, so i will add 1 to the list.
Hi Kurt! In the spirit of some of the other comments, I will say that you have some (at least one) of them right, but not all. Perhaps I’ll divulge more directly.