Infraction

Algebra II, Humor, Tales from the Classroom 1 Minute

While I can’t take credit for this one-liner, I’m more than happy to share it.

A colleague was explaining his expectations for simplifying expressions such as

\displaystyle \frac{\displaystyle ~~~\frac{2x}{x^2+1}~~~}{\displaystyle ~~~\frac{x}{x^2-1}~~~}

Of course, this isn’t yet simplified, but his students were balking about doing the required work. So, on the spur of the moment, he laid down a simple rule:

Not simplifying a fraction in a fraction is an infraction.

Utterly brilliant.

Published by John Quintanilla

I'm a Professor of Mathematics and a University Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of North Texas. For eight years, I was co-director of Teach North Texas, UNT's program for preparing secondary teachers of mathematics and science.

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2 thoughts on “Infraction”

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