To this day, I still remember inspiring mathematics quotes and projects these teachers introduced, such as quotes by Andrew Wiles and Paul Halmos. And tasks like modeling a Fibonacci fountain or determining the surface area of a floating aluminum boat that would hold the maximum number of pennies. Even constructing a rollercoaster out of a garden hose – for marbles only, unfortunately. And perhaps you have similar memories from your math classes.
As a result, our overall feeling might be that math is beautiful.
However, it’s also a subject that many either love or hate. Much of this stems from how math topics are or aren’t explored.
Research studies explored by the Education Alliance and the National Center for Educational Achievement found several strategies that make learning math more effective. These include:
- Using prior experiences and knowledge to build new knowledge.
- Present lessons differently, such as encouraging students to work independently, utilizing visual aids, and having group discussions.
- Ask children questions to assess their understanding and encourage them to work through their answers.
- Making real-life connections to math topics being taught.
Throughout recent years and over the centuries, famous mathematicians, innovators, and even familiar household names have shared their wisdom on math. Quotes are an excellent way to supplement math lessons and encourage students to think about math in a new light.
Quotes may encourage us to explore questions like “What is math?” or “What is made possible through math?”
One of my favorite math quotes is by Katherine Johnson. Johnson was a prominent mathematician who worked for NASA. She was responsible for working on the calculations which put an astronaut into orbit around Earth. Johnson said, “In math, you’re either right or wrong.” And when it comes to this statement, one can’t help but think about the implications of an incorrect calculation on a venture such as space exploration. Perhaps you have a favorite math quote that makes you consider certain things too?
Famous Math Quotes:
The essence of mathematics is not to make simple things complicated but to make complex things simple. ~ Stan Gudder
What is mathematics? It is only a systematic effort to solve puzzles posed by nature. ~ Shakuntala Devi
Mathematics knows no races or geographic boundaries; for mathematics, the cultural world is one country. ~ David Hilbert
Mathematics is where you can do things you can’t do in the real world. ~ Marcus de Sautoy
Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas. ~ Albert Einstein
Life is a math equation. You must know how to convert the negatives into positives to gain the most. ~ unknown
The only way to learn mathematics is to do mathematics. ~ Paul Halmos
We will always have STEM with us. Some things will drop out of the public eye and will go away, but there will always be science, engineering, and technology. And there will always, always be mathematics. ~ Katherine Johnson
Five out of four people have trouble with fractions. ~ Steven Wright
Nature is written in mathematical language. ~ Galileo Galilei
Mathematics may not teach us to add love or subtract hate, but it gives us hope that every problem has a solution. ~ unknown
Not everything that counts can be counted. Not everything that can be measured depends. ~ Albert Einstein
The essence of mathematics is in its freedom. ~ Georg Cantor
Without mathematics, there’s nothing you can do. Everything around you is mathematics; everything around you is numbers. ~ Shakuntala Devi
In math, you’re either right, or you’re wrong. ~ Katherine Johnson
It is impossible to be a mathematician without being a poet in soul. ~ Sofia Kovalevskaya
Arithmetic is counting up to twenty without taking off your shoes. ~ Mickey Mouse
Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton asked why. ~ Bernard Baruch
The definition of a good mathematical problem is the mathematics it generates rather than the problem itself. ~ Andrew Wiles
What sciences can be more noble, excellent, useful for people, admirably high, and demonstrative than mathematics? ~ Benjamin Franklin
