Mastodawn

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#MathsMonday #Mathematics #Math
This week a note about the rules of #Maths, but first, the picture...

I saw Mules get mentioned this week, and had a funny thought, "Mules works as an abbreviation of Mathematical Rules", which then lends itself to saying some funny things like, "the Mules say to multiply first", or the sign in this pic could be read as "Mule multiplying". 😂 I look forward to this being word of the year next year 😂

Anyhows, the main point this week relates to the Mules...

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💡𝚂𝗆𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗆𝖺𝗇 𝙰𝗉𝗉𝗌📱Jun 15

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Some people, especially #Gaslighters, will try to claim something isn't a "rule", and do something like 2+3-4x5=5-4x5=5-20=-15, and say "There! I disobeyed the rules but got the right answer, which proves that they aren't rules". This is like saying "I was speeding today, and didn't get fined, which proves that speeding isn't illegal" 🙄

The rules explicitly exist to guarantee correct answers. i.e. if you always follow the rules, you will always get the correct answer...

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💡𝚂𝗆𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗆𝖺𝗇 𝙰𝗉𝗉𝗌📱Jun 15

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I was taught that, I teach that, and I know other people were taught that too, and managing to get a correct answer when not obeying the rules does nothing to change that (and not getting fined for speeding today doesn't change that speeding is illegal). To prove a rule isn't a rule, you would have to show you can get a wrong answer when obeying the rules. Let me know if you can find a case which does exactly that. Good luck with that! 😂

Further...

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💡𝚂𝗆𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗆𝖺𝗇 𝙰𝗉𝗉𝗌📱

4/4
I've sometimes had those types say to me "where can I find these rules listed in a Maths textbook?". You can't (which I'm sure they know). Each rule is in a relevant part of the text. e.g. you will find order of operations rules in a chapter about... order of operations, you'll find Pythagoras in a chapter about 2D shapes, etc. All rules are taught at the appropriate time, not all at once. In fact it would be a violation of Curwen's rules of teaching to teach them all at once!