thank you very much for that introduction and good afternoon ladies
introduction and good afternoon ladies
introduction and good afternoon ladies and gentlemen thank you for having me
and gentlemen thank you for having me
and gentlemen thank you for having me here today how many of you know someone
here today how many of you know someone
here today how many of you know someone who’s afraid of math please raise your
who’s afraid of math please raise your
who’s afraid of math please raise your hand okay
hand okay
hand okay that’s almost all of you when is the
that’s almost all of you when is the
that’s almost all of you when is the last time a number jumped out of of the
last time a number jumped out of of the
last time a number jumped out of of the page and bit you or a polynomial punched
page and bit you or a polynomial punched
page and bit you or a polynomial punched you in the face
you in the face
you in the face that doesn’t happen yet there is a fear
that doesn’t happen yet there is a fear
that doesn’t happen yet there is a fear of math what happens when you get a
of math what happens when you get a
of math what happens when you get a question wrong somebody comes and tells
question wrong somebody comes and tells
question wrong somebody comes and tells you why did you make a mistake now
you why did you make a mistake now
you why did you make a mistake now imagine I am the coach of a basketball
imagine I am the coach of a basketball
imagine I am the coach of a basketball team and every time a player misses a
team and every time a player misses a
team and every time a player misses a shot
shot
shot I say why did you make a mistake very
soon
soon the players will realize that the best
the players will realize that the best
the players will realize that the best strategy is to not take a shot and in a
strategy is to not take a shot and in a
strategy is to not take a shot and in a few weeks I’ll have this incredible team
few weeks I’ll have this incredible team
few weeks I’ll have this incredible team that never makes a mistake I go to my
that never makes a mistake I go to my
that never makes a mistake I go to my boss and I tell him he’s all excited and
boss and I tell him he’s all excited and
boss and I tell him he’s all excited and we go to our first match and what does
we go to our first match and what does
we go to our first match and what does my boss see the players are dribbling
my boss see the players are dribbling
my boss see the players are dribbling around and around and around the court
around and around and around the court
around and around and around the court never taking a shot they lose the match
never taking a shot they lose the match
never taking a shot they lose the match we come back and they say we are not
we come back and they say we are not
we come back and they say we are not natural athletes
natural athletes
natural athletes we’re just failures so I ask you what is
we’re just failures so I ask you what is
we’re just failures so I ask you what is the opposite of failure
if you thought success you have just
if you thought success you have just fallen into the trap that society has
fallen into the trap that society has
fallen into the trap that society has laid for us my players never failed did
laid for us my players never failed did
laid for us my players never failed did they succeed the relationship between
they succeed the relationship between
they succeed the relationship between failure and success is this failure is
failure and success is this failure is
failure and success is this failure is the path and success is the destination
the path and success is the destination
the path and success is the destination you may need to fail several times in
you may need to fail several times in
you may need to fail several times in order to succeed so the next time
order to succeed so the next time
order to succeed so the next time somebody says why did you make that
somebody says why did you make that
somebody says why did you make that mistake think to yourself because I want
mistake think to yourself because I want
mistake think to yourself because I want to learn from the mistake and succeed
to learn from the mistake and succeed
to learn from the mistake and succeed now I do not recommend you say this out
now I do not recommend you say this out
now I do not recommend you say this out aloud it is logically perfectly correct
aloud it is logically perfectly correct
aloud it is logically perfectly correct but you may come across as impertinent
but you may come across as impertinent
but you may come across as impertinent we live in a complex world where you
we live in a complex world where you
we live in a complex world where you have to keep track of your logic along
have to keep track of your logic along
have to keep track of your logic along with the emotions of other people what
with the emotions of other people what
with the emotions of other people what is the emotion of the parent of a four
is the emotion of the parent of a four
is the emotion of the parent of a four year old with just the right inputs my
year old with just the right inputs my
year old with just the right inputs my child will become Einstein so the parent
child will become Einstein so the parent
child will become Einstein so the parent is standing there wringing his hands and
is standing there wringing his hands and
is standing there wringing his hands and a sick child what is three plus four and
a sick child what is three plus four and
a sick child what is three plus four and this poor child is trying to count with
this poor child is trying to count with
this poor child is trying to count with his fingers and trying to keep that
his fingers and trying to keep that
his fingers and trying to keep that little finger down there while moving on
little finger down there while moving on
little finger down there while moving on to the other hand the parent has
to the other hand the parent has
to the other hand the parent has aspiration but also the fear that that
aspiration but also the fear that that
aspiration but also the fear that that little finger might just pop out and he
little finger might just pop out and he
little finger might just pop out and he will get the answer wrong and there’s
will get the answer wrong and there’s
will get the answer wrong and there’s anxiety this anxiety has been
anxiety this anxiety has been
anxiety this anxiety has been transmitted to the child who now is
transmitted to the child who now is
transmitted to the child who now is perceiving that the future of the world
perceiving that the future of the world
perceiving that the future of the world rests on his ability to control that
rests on his ability to control that
rests on his ability to control that little finger and it’s not a pleasant
little finger and it’s not a pleasant
little finger and it’s not a pleasant experience and there is so
experience and there is so
experience and there is so first seed of the fear of math now the
first seed of the fear of math now the
first seed of the fear of math now the child is 12 years old he’s doing a
child is 12 years old he’s doing a
child is 12 years old he’s doing a problem in decimal multiplication and
problem in decimal multiplication and
problem in decimal multiplication and the child and the parent is now cracking
the child and the parent is now cracking
the child and the parent is now cracking his knuckles they’re looking at the
his knuckles they’re looking at the
his knuckles they’re looking at the question and just hoping to himself
question and just hoping to himself
question and just hoping to himself please get that decimal point in the
please get that decimal point in the
please get that decimal point in the correct place don’t let it go to the
correct place don’t let it go to the
correct place don’t let it go to the left don’t let it go to the right and
left don’t let it go to the right and
left don’t let it go to the right and what the child is seeing is a large
what the child is seeing is a large
what the child is seeing is a large jumble of numbers and with a dot that
jumble of numbers and with a dot that
jumble of numbers and with a dot that actually is supposed to have a meaning
actually is supposed to have a meaning
actually is supposed to have a meaning and he feels the anxiety and he decides
and he feels the anxiety and he decides
and he feels the anxiety and he decides I don’t like math but he knows that
I don’t like math but he knows that
I don’t like math but he knows that society equates intellect to
society equates intellect to
society equates intellect to mathematical ability and he doesn’t want
mathematical ability and he doesn’t want
mathematical ability and he doesn’t want to feel less intelligent so he says I am
to feel less intelligent so he says I am
to feel less intelligent so he says I am a science person why does society it
a science person why does society it
a science person why does society it equate intellect to mathematical ability
equate intellect to mathematical ability
equate intellect to mathematical ability if you know mathematics you’re
if you know mathematics you’re
if you know mathematics you’re intelligent
intelligent
intelligent if you don’t know mathematics you’re not
if you don’t know mathematics you’re not
if you don’t know mathematics you’re not intelligent why the society give us this
intelligent why the society give us this
intelligent why the society give us this feedback a couple of centuries ago
society equated intellect to mastery of
society equated intellect to mastery of Latin Sir Isaac Newton published the
Latin Sir Isaac Newton published the
Latin Sir Isaac Newton published the Principia Mathematica his most famous
Principia Mathematica his most famous
Principia Mathematica his most famous work in Latin Latin was the language of
work in Latin Latin was the language of
work in Latin Latin was the language of science if you did not know Latin you
science if you did not know Latin you
science if you did not know Latin you did not have access to scientific
did not have access to scientific
did not have access to scientific literature today it might sound almost
literature today it might sound almost
literature today it might sound almost comical that society equated intellect
comical that society equated intellect
comical that society equated intellect to mastery of Latin today the language
to mastery of Latin today the language
to mastery of Latin today the language of science is mathematics you want to
of science is mathematics you want to
of science is mathematics you want to express an idea precisely and
express an idea precisely and
express an idea precisely and quantitatively you use mathematics
but Latin and mathematics are just tools
but Latin and mathematics are just tools it is good to master a tool but real
it is good to master a tool but real
it is good to master a tool but real intellect lies in understanding which
intellect lies in understanding which
intellect lies in understanding which tool to use in what sequence with what
tool to use in what sequence with what
tool to use in what sequence with what inputs a handheld calculator can
inputs a handheld calculator can
inputs a handheld calculator can probably calculate the square root of a
probably calculate the square root of a
probably calculate the square root of a large number faster than most of us but
large number faster than most of us but
large number faster than most of us but is it intelligent you need to think
is it intelligent you need to think
is it intelligent you need to think about what tool to use and what inputs
about what tool to use and what inputs
about what tool to use and what inputs to give it let me give you a simple
to give it let me give you a simple
to give it let me give you a simple example I have a question this is a
example I have a question this is a
example I have a question this is a typical eighth grade question three men
typical eighth grade question three men
typical eighth grade question three men and four women complete a job in five
and four women complete a job in five
and four women complete a job in five days four men and three women takes six
days four men and three women takes six
days four men and three women takes six days how many days does one man take the
days how many days does one man take the
days how many days does one man take the numbers are all small and I’m sure every
numbers are all small and I’m sure every
numbers are all small and I’m sure every one of you can do the division and
one of you can do the division and
one of you can do the division and multiplication in your head but what is
multiplication in your head but what is
multiplication in your head but what is the principle underlying this question
the principle underlying this question
the principle underlying this question what sequence of operators do we use now
what sequence of operators do we use now
what sequence of operators do we use now imagine if I change this around and I
imagine if I change this around and I
imagine if I change this around and I try to solve it using a play I have
try to solve it using a play I have
try to solve it using a play I have three boards four girls standing here by
three boards four girls standing here by
three boards four girls standing here by four boils three girls standing there
four boils three girls standing there
four boils three girls standing there they perform the task while the audience
they perform the task while the audience
they perform the task while the audience watches will the answer jump out at you
watches will the answer jump out at you
watches will the answer jump out at you is that a better way of putting this in
is that a better way of putting this in
is that a better way of putting this in perspective perhaps perhaps two
perspective perhaps perhaps two
perspective perhaps perhaps two centuries from now people will be saying
centuries from now people will be saying
centuries from now people will be saying you know back in the 21st century they
you know back in the 21st century they
you know back in the 21st century they used to equate intellect to mathematical
used to equate intellect to mathematical
used to equate intellect to mathematical ability unbelievable perhaps but for
ability unbelievable perhaps but for
ability unbelievable perhaps but for this century if you make a mistake
this century if you make a mistake
this century if you make a mistake someone’s gonna say why did you
someone’s gonna say why did you
someone’s gonna say why did you make that mistake so what is going on
make that mistake so what is going on
make that mistake so what is going on here if you make a mistake the adult now
here if you make a mistake the adult now
here if you make a mistake the adult now has to do something that that was not
has to do something that that was not
has to do something that that was not anticipated they have to spend time
anticipated they have to spend time
anticipated they have to spend time explaining something for you this time
explaining something for you this time
explaining something for you this time was not budgeted the emotional energy
was not budgeted the emotional energy
was not budgeted the emotional energy the intellectual energy needed to solve
the intellectual energy needed to solve
the intellectual energy needed to solve this was not budgeted what is the child
this was not budgeted what is the child
this was not budgeted what is the child thinking they don’t want me to make a
thinking they don’t want me to make a
thinking they don’t want me to make a mistake they want me to conform they
mistake they want me to conform they
mistake they want me to conform they want me to stay within my comfort zone
want me to stay within my comfort zone
want me to stay within my comfort zone the textbook is always right so if I
the textbook is always right so if I
the textbook is always right so if I just memorize the textbook that might be
just memorize the textbook that might be
just memorize the textbook that might be the right answer so the child diligently
the right answer so the child diligently
the right answer so the child diligently memorizes the textbook and confidently
memorizes the textbook and confidently
memorizes the textbook and confidently walks into the next math exam and when
walks into the next math exam and when
walks into the next math exam and when the results come the next seed of the
the results come the next seed of the
the results come the next seed of the fear of math has been sown have you
fear of math has been sown have you
fear of math has been sown have you heard of people have a fear of geography
heard of people have a fear of geography
heard of people have a fear of geography a fear of history the way our curriculum
a fear of history the way our curriculum
a fear of history the way our curriculum is structured for most subjects you can
is structured for most subjects you can
is structured for most subjects you can get along pretty far by memorizing the
get along pretty far by memorizing the
get along pretty far by memorizing the textbook when I was in 10th grade I had
textbook when I was in 10th grade I had
textbook when I was in 10th grade I had real trouble with Hindi so I memorize a
real trouble with Hindi so I memorize a
real trouble with Hindi so I memorize a textbook and for every question I
textbook and for every question I
textbook and for every question I reproduce the entire chapter hoping that
reproduce the entire chapter hoping that
reproduce the entire chapter hoping that the examiner would see it as a wonderful
the examiner would see it as a wonderful
the examiner would see it as a wonderful preface to the answer followed by the
preface to the answer followed by the
preface to the answer followed by the answer itself followed by a nice
answer itself followed by a nice
answer itself followed by a nice conclusion I passed just barely the
conclusion I passed just barely the
conclusion I passed just barely the problem with math is that if the answer
problem with math is that if the answer
problem with math is that if the answer is 15 you cannot say 13 14 15 16 17 that
is 15 you cannot say 13 14 15 16 17 that
is 15 you cannot say 13 14 15 16 17 that does not work
does not work
does not work math is like a pyramid you’re in ninth
math is like a pyramid you’re in ninth
math is like a pyramid you’re in ninth grade at the top of a pyramid is a
grade at the top of a pyramid is a
grade at the top of a pyramid is a question like finding the number of
question like finding the number of
question like finding the number of bricks needed to build a wall this
bricks needed to build a wall this
bricks needed to build a wall this depends on to eighth grade topics below
depends on to eighth grade topics below
depends on to eighth grade topics below that area volume decimal multiplication
that area volume decimal multiplication
that area volume decimal multiplication decimal multiplication in turn depends
decimal multiplication in turn depends
decimal multiplication in turn depends on six great topics decimals and
on six great topics decimals and
on six great topics decimals and fractions and it was all the way down to
fractions and it was all the way down to
fractions and it was all the way down to first grade
if you attempt an advanced topic that
if you attempt an advanced topic that depends on a prerequisite and you’ve not
depends on a prerequisite and you’ve not
depends on a prerequisite and you’ve not internalized that prerequisite it’s not
internalized that prerequisite it’s not
internalized that prerequisite it’s not a nice feeling it causes emotional
a nice feeling it causes emotional
a nice feeling it causes emotional dissonance you feel a sense of guilt you
dissonance you feel a sense of guilt you
dissonance you feel a sense of guilt you know two years ago when I was supposed
know two years ago when I was supposed
know two years ago when I was supposed to have done my homework
to have done my homework
to have done my homework I just didn’t and now it’s coming back
I just didn’t and now it’s coming back
I just didn’t and now it’s coming back to haunt me three years ago when I was
to haunt me three years ago when I was
to haunt me three years ago when I was study but when I was supposed to study
study but when I was supposed to study
study but when I was supposed to study for that exam I went out and played it’s
for that exam I went out and played it’s
for that exam I went out and played it’s all my fault
all my fault
all my fault you feel the guilt it’s not a nice
you feel the guilt it’s not a nice
you feel the guilt it’s not a nice feeling the solution though is very
feeling the solution though is very
feeling the solution though is very simple go down to the brick and work on
simple go down to the brick and work on
simple go down to the brick and work on it internalize that topic and very soon
it internalize that topic and very soon
it internalize that topic and very soon you will move back up if you try to do
you will move back up if you try to do
you will move back up if you try to do area volume and you don’t know where the
area volume and you don’t know where the
area volume and you don’t know where the decimal point is supposed to go it’s not
decimal point is supposed to go it’s not
decimal point is supposed to go it’s not a nice feeling just go back down there
a nice feeling just go back down there
a nice feeling just go back down there and you’ll find you’ll very very quickly
and you’ll find you’ll very very quickly
and you’ll find you’ll very very quickly move right back up the good thing about
move right back up the good thing about
move right back up the good thing about math is you can try and try and retry as
math is you can try and try and retry as
math is you can try and try and retry as many times as you like so what I’m
many times as you like so what I’m
many times as you like so what I’m telling you now is make mistakes make
telling you now is make mistakes make
telling you now is make mistakes make mistakes and learn from them embrace
mistakes and learn from them embrace
mistakes and learn from them embrace failure because that is your path
failure because that is your path
failure because that is your path expand your horizons and broaden your
expand your horizons and broaden your
expand your horizons and broaden your comfort zone if you don’t fail you will
comfort zone if you don’t fail you will
comfort zone if you don’t fail you will be like my basketball team dribbling
be like my basketball team dribbling
be like my basketball team dribbling around and around and around the court
around and around and around the court
around and around and around the court now we’re taking a shot that doesn’t
now we’re taking a shot that doesn’t
now we’re taking a shot that doesn’t lead you to success entrepreneurs today
lead you to success entrepreneurs today
lead you to success entrepreneurs today have a new mantra
have a new mantra
have a new mantra fail fast what it means is go down a
fail fast what it means is go down a
fail fast what it means is go down a path figure out whether it’s right or
path figure out whether it’s right or
path figure out whether it’s right or wrong what’s right in it what’s wrong in
wrong what’s right in it what’s wrong in
wrong what’s right in it what’s wrong in it fix what’s wrong in it and do it your
it fix what’s wrong in it and do it your
it fix what’s wrong in it and do it your way this is about your way do it your
way this is about your way do it your
way this is about your way do it your way
imagine you have to scale a ten-foot
imagine you have to scale a ten-foot wall you look around you look at your
wall you look around you look at your
wall you look around you look at your neighbor you see what footholds he is
neighbor you see what footholds he is
neighbor you see what footholds he is using you use the same four tools that
using you use the same four tools that
using you use the same four tools that will get you up there
will get you up there
will get you up there but you could also look out look around
but you could also look out look around
but you could also look out look around the wall and look for your own foot
the wall and look for your own foot
the wall and look for your own foot holes let’s suit you the best and if
holes let’s suit you the best and if
holes let’s suit you the best and if you’re really ambitious you could make a
you’re really ambitious you could make a
you’re really ambitious you could make a few footholds all of your own customized
few footholds all of your own customized
few footholds all of your own customized for you math is very similar if somebody
for you math is very similar if somebody
for you math is very similar if somebody gives you up the process you can follow
gives you up the process you can follow
gives you up the process you can follow the process and get to the answer but a
the process and get to the answer but a
the process and get to the answer but a better approach might be to look at the
better approach might be to look at the
better approach might be to look at the question look at what are the underlying
question look at what are the underlying
question look at what are the underlying principles behind this question solve
principles behind this question solve
principles behind this question solve the question for yourself with your own
the question for yourself with your own
the question for yourself with your own tools in your own way
imagine if spider-man was teaching a
imagine if spider-man was teaching a class and the students were Superman
class and the students were Superman
class and the students were Superman Elastigirl and Captain America this is
Elastigirl and Captain America this is
Elastigirl and Captain America this is the poor man stranded on a building that
the poor man stranded on a building that
the poor man stranded on a building that who needs to be rescued
who needs to be rescued
who needs to be rescued so Spiderman says we weave the web we
so Spiderman says we weave the web we
so Spiderman says we weave the web we swing along we grab him and get him back
swing along we grab him and get him back
swing along we grab him and get him back and Superman is sitting there all
and Superman is sitting there all
and Superman is sitting there all dejected I don’t know how do we ever
dejected I don’t know how do we ever
dejected I don’t know how do we ever wear
wear
wear the last girl is thinking I can
the last girl is thinking I can
the last girl is thinking I can calculate theta but web I don’t know and
calculate theta but web I don’t know and
calculate theta but web I don’t know and Captain America is standing with a
Captain America is standing with a
Captain America is standing with a shield trying to wiggle it around no web
shield trying to wiggle it around no web
shield trying to wiggle it around no web the class is dejected they think of
the class is dejected they think of
the class is dejected they think of themselves as failures they have low
themselves as failures they have low
themselves as failures they have low self-esteem they cannot they cannot
self-esteem they cannot they cannot
self-esteem they cannot they cannot proceed the way that has been prescribed
proceed the way that has been prescribed
proceed the way that has been prescribed but they are superheroes they each have
but they are superheroes they each have
but they are superheroes they each have their own power Superman should fly and
their own power Superman should fly and
their own power Superman should fly and bring that man back and lastly go should
bring that man back and lastly go should
bring that man back and lastly go should just stretch her hand out and get him
just stretch her hand out and get him
just stretch her hand out and get him and Captain America I should do
and Captain America I should do
and Captain America I should do something with that shield you are
something with that shield you are
something with that shield you are superheroes each of you has your own
superheroes each of you has your own
superheroes each of you has your own power develop that power develop your
power develop that power develop your
power develop that power develop your own technique develop your own style
own technique develop your own style
own technique develop your own style develop yourself if you are afraid of
develop yourself if you are afraid of
develop yourself if you are afraid of math you’re in good company all the
math you’re in good company all the
math you’re in good company all the Nobel laureates of the world and all the
Nobel laureates of the world and all the
Nobel laureates of the world and all the fields medalists together are unable to
fields medalists together are unable to
fields medalists together are unable to solve certain mathematical questions and
solve certain mathematical questions and
solve certain mathematical questions and there are just about seven billion
there are just about seven billion
there are just about seven billion people on this planet who find math hard
people on this planet who find math hard
people on this planet who find math hard at some level or another so don’t worry
at some level or another so don’t worry
at some level or another so don’t worry if you find math hard just go back down
if you find math hard just go back down
if you find math hard just go back down to the loose brick fix it and you’ll
to the loose brick fix it and you’ll
to the loose brick fix it and you’ll move right back up and while you’re at
move right back up and while you’re at
move right back up and while you’re at it shed all that emotional baggage that
it shed all that emotional baggage that
it shed all that emotional baggage that society has laid on your shoulders and
society has laid on your shoulders and
society has laid on your shoulders and blossom into the you the wonderful you
blossom into the you the wonderful you
blossom into the you the wonderful you that you are you’re all extremely
that you are you’re all extremely
that you are you’re all extremely talented students remarkably creative
talented students remarkably creative
talented students remarkably creative and very intelligent students here at
and very intelligent students here at
and very intelligent students here at one of the best schools in the country
one of the best schools in the country
one of the best schools in the country you will do incredibly well and I wish
you will do incredibly well and I wish
you will do incredibly well and I wish you the very best
you the very best
you the very best thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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