Dear Namers,

Our job as mathematicians is to give many different names to the same thing. Sometimes that might seem silly. And you might be thinking, “Why do I have to think of 9×8 as (((9×2)x2)x2)? Why can’t I just find the answer?”

But we’re not interested in finding answers; we’re interested in making meaning. There aren’t very many “answers” in life. But there are new worlds to be created and explored through making meaning.

So don’t think of math class as a time to look for answers. Think of it as a time to play around with numbers–breaking them, stretching them, and giving them new names.

Sincerely,

Mr. Heimbuck