Celina Week #15: (A+B+...N-1)/N = what again..
Math Olympiad. My first trauma.
There was a day in third or fourth grade, I believe, where my dad had challenged me to yet another math problem. This one I remember clearly(-ish):
The average of the class after 6 students took a test was 90%. When Tommy took a test, the test average went down to 75%. What was his score?
This problem was scribbled on the singular whiteboard we had in our house and then propped up on my couch by my very excited father. He wouldn’t let me play until I solved the problem. Spoiler!! I did not. My very dejected father quite begrudgingly told me Tommy’s score (-15%, yikes). Here is how it was solved, for those who remain as confused as I was--am.
No, I’m kidding, but I swear these little problems haunted my life in elementary school. I’ve heard it said that it is a canon event to be scolded by an impatient father as you attempt to do math. I’ve had that experience a thousand times over.
I think there is a difference in being clueless and being clueless around people, especially those that you hope to make proud of. Humans, no matter how much we try to disprove it, are extremely “other people” oriented creatures. I like to think that’s why poems and paintings and songs exist. Unlike isolation, happiness and optimism can often be so clearly expressed that it almost seems redundant to write it into words. But those pieces that I feel like make my heart drop, those are almost always depressing. The sound of a plane departing; of standing silent in a group of people; of looking around.
I imagine it feels about the same as how Tommy probably felt when he looked at that score.
The above quite accurately depicts what it looks like when I do math!
Hi Celina, this is a refreshing, and sadly relatable, take on this unit topic of memory. The worst thing about fathers making you solve math problems in front of them is the hope in their eyes. It's crushing when you can't solve the problem, and a bit exhilarating when you do. However, even when you -do- get the problems correct, they always just get harder...As for your writing, in your fourth paragraph I enjoy how you use "very," a word that in most writing advice online is considered a "fluff" word which should generally be removed, to add a comic touch to your portrayal of your father. I'm blanking on the specific rhetorical device, but one of my favorite British authors, Terry Pratchett, does that a lot. Finally, I like how the blog concludes with poor Tommy, tying the piece together and making me smile at his pain.
ReplyDeleteHi Celina! It’s comforting to know that other people have had the same experience with homework problems and parental expectations at the ripe age of nine. For me, my dad didn’t push math so much on me as he did vocabulary. I remember every week he would sit me down for an hour at the dinner table and make me spell a list of fifteen words, and if I messed up, I had to restart completely. I want to say it helped me, my recent scores on the vocabulary tests we’ve been taking in class would say otherwise. It’s quite shocking, however, that you were expected to solve such a math problem so young; even now I’m struggling to solve it (even though you gave us the answer). I like how you added the comment about Tommy at the end, as well, taking away from the stressful nature of high expectations at a young age by adding some comical relief.
ReplyDeleteHello Celine, I resonated with you deeply regarding the unrelenting trauma math as caused me. I still remember being yelled at by my dad when I did not understand math. I remember even clearer the unshed tears that would fill my eyes as I attempted to make sense of the problem given. I also wanted to point out that I think you write so beautifully. Your words are so powerful and the structure of your writing is clear and concise. Back to the subject, I completely agree with your point that humans are “other people” creatures, and your perspective of art being proof of this really opened my eyes. Thank you for writing this blog and I hope to read from you more in the future.
ReplyDeleteHi Celina, first, I must agree with you that a scolding from a dad when working on a math problem he assigned HAS to be some canon event. I remember the days (not even that long ago) when my dad would have me sit down and assign me some difficult (for me at the time) math and physics problems (I loved the physics ones because they were more conceptual). Anyways, I really sympathize with your plight in that specific scenario, because how is someone supposed to believe that they’re right when the answer is a negative score??? I also deeply connect to your last paragraph about people being “‘other people’ oriented creatures,” as I am a very “people oriented” person. The imagery of standing alone at an airport, hearing the plane leave (and also I’m imagining a sunset scene) is very depressing, and I share your feelings about it. Your blog was a great look into how others can have similar experiences and thoughts, and I really enjoyed reading it.
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