Math Quote

I was getting my brain abused by all these college application essays that I decided to get some help from someone. There happens to be a college that asks me to indicate my "intellectual interests" and what it is about them that makes them so special. So I decided to ask my mum this: How do you define Mathematics?

She took a deep breath and replied:

"Mathematics is all about logic and never magic. Everything that you come up with has reason behind it. Although mathematics seem solely about numbers and what not, those "numbers" don't just appear out of nowhere. The units even. You can't simply poof up RM20 from 20."     -Mum

Deep. Those weren't her words exactly though, but close enough. And I nodded in agreement. Well, she is my Math guru. Logic. Mathematics is about logic. I began tap-tap-tapping on the keyboard again. I sighed.

Through these college essays (which are mostly due by early next year), I actually learnt to dig deep into myself. These essays aren't your typical English language exams. They're more of trying to get you to know yourself, and really I was able to reflect on numerous things in my past.

Think of it this way. Literature. In English class,

Kuih with a Hole in the Middle

Being a both a Malaysian and a facebooker, you guys must've heard of the riddle "Banyak-banyak kuih, kuih apakah yang orang makan tepinya sahaja? Tengahnya tidak dimakan.". The answer is donut right? Well think again. This riddle had lived its days remarkably as one of those teka-tekis that gives people a facepalm. Not any more.

Unfortunately for that dear donut, companies such as Big Apple and Dunkin' Donuts start to rise, bringing a new generation of that so-called "Kuih with a Hole in the Middle". With fillings, creams, nuts and fruits at the centre of the donut, the riddle at the beginning of this post is proven to be invalid. (Awwwwwwwww) You may be wondering, up to this point, as to why I am discussing on this worldly issue. Have a look at the photo below

Gorgeous

A certain someone bought it for me when he went for an outing. And they're pink! With a slice of strawberry and tiny strips of white chocolate on top. Hooray for that. I didn't expect that he'd actually buy me something, but thanks nevertheless. By the way, I didn't have to place it in a burner. Nanti tak sedap la =='

Now I'd like you to imagine that you eat only the edges of the doughnut shown above, thus leaving its midsection. That would be such a waste wouldn't it. Boohoo. But I don't blame these companies. I am actually a fan of doughnuts (again, thanks for those doughnuts .. really appreciate it.. or them..). Doughnuts are often related to police officers, as seen in movies or American dramas. I still don't get why. They stop for some doughnuts before going for a pursuit.

Other varieties of doughnuts from the internet

The highlight for today is actually the International Mathematics Olympiad selection test (sorry for the divergence guys). I was the only odd-one-out. I mean, I wasn't even in the Math Olympiad class and then there I was, sitting for this very huge exam. Not that I was unhappy (Alhamdulillah I was selected to participate in this selection test), but it was the fact that I knew way less than all of the others.

However, I have learnt not to put down my weapons before I enter the battle. As I looked upon the question, the first one was pretty easy. The second one was okay if it weren't for the fact that I didn't understand the term "tangent internally" and "tangent externally". So answered what I thought would be the answer. Alhamdulillah, I could answer the third with confidence. But not the same can be said for questions number 4 and 5. I, having no other solution in mind, start thinking of matrices that we learnt in LA and tried to implement it. Didn't work.

A random photo from the internet

The time allocated for the test was 3.5 hours, but one by one stood up before me and got out of the examination hall. By over 2 o'clock, after only an hour and 45 minutes after the exam started, I, too, followed them. Seriously, I flipped the papers over and over, but still nothing popped up in my brain. Not actually hoping to be selected, but if I were to be chosen, then all praise goes to Allah.