What they actually see:
convolution
cross product
dot product
multiplication
this post was submitted on 13 Dec 2025
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The irony is that this meme works in reverse for that. At least, in order of mind blowing as I refreshed my memory, it goes multiplication (very easy), dot (scalars easy), cross (vectors medium) and convolution (integrals hard).
In fact, I never did the later two but convolution looks fun.
I see multiplication in code, Cartesian product, multiplication, multiplication.
I might not count as a mathematician though. If the * was supposed to be convolution the a should have been cursive.
In latex if you are using * you better mean convolution
Yes (actually \ast though?), but unless you're a maniac in LaTeX latin letters referring to variables in a math environment are cursive (actually a math font I think). Therefore if I am reading a single sentence that may or may not have been made using TeX I tend towards not if variables are in a standard font.
No. If a is a scalar, which it clearly is, it's all multiplication. And there is no reason to use any of the first three. We say "three apples", not "three x apples".
hurr durr maybe it's a vector in ℝ
it's funny, because I always imagined them giggling about typing 8008135 into calculators.
Surely you mean 5318008.
Naw. Mathmaticians are frequently dyslexic.
It’s grammarians doing it backward!
Ah, that’s how we wound up with reverse Polish notation.
3 a *
Excuse me, but self respecting mathematicians calculate it properly.
Now let's see, it was Dolly Parton had...
a+a+a
3(a)
a, three times.
Shaka, when the walls fell.
threa
0a^0^ + 3a^1^
madness. How am I supposed to know if 36 = 36 or 36 = 8?
Numbers are all made up stuff, and they're all the same. Here, lemme prove it; let a=b, and...
a² = ab // multiplying both sides by "a"
2a² = a²+ab // adding a² to both sides
2a²-2ab = a²-ab // subtracting 2ab from both sides
2(a²-ab) = 1(a²-ab) // isolating (a²-ab)
2 = 1 // dividing both sides by (a²-ab)
From there you can prove any number is any number. 36=36 or 36=8 or 36=π.
the trick
If a=b, you can't divide both sides by (a²-ab), because it's a division by zero.
Lots of zeros in that due to a=b (before looking at the spoiler text)
Bingo. The whole "a=b" is just a distraction to hide it, otherwise as soon as you hit the third step you cancel both out, and end with 0=0.
Do you mean 36 = 18 there? Otherwise, I'm very confused. 😅
Doesn't make a difference as 18 = 8
Because the things like 3a are only for variables, not numbers.
AAA I guess
That's A³
i just want to know how to write it as screaming
Chess Grandmasters: a3
b
Because 3a = b
FYI for the alt text: that's Vince McMahon.
Yeah, when I found the meme template, it did say that, too, but I wasn't sure if that information is actually helpful to someone reading alt text. Personally, I only know the guy from the memes. 😅
Za.