Comics about mathematics, science, and the student life.

Your Turn

Despite being frustrated as undergraduates, we do the same thing as our professors later on.

The cycle continues.

31 Oct 2018

Procedure

Student thinks their piece doesn't fit in the machine, but they don't realize that a rotation would do the trick.

I try not to be too cynical about early mathematics education, but I really dislike when we try and split a concept into distinct “parts”. The end result is that students don’t recognize that some procedures are part of the same idea.

29 Oct 2018

Extra Step

Student walks down the staircase, thinking there are only two steps to go when really there are three left.

It’s like a staircase that always has one more step than the last time you used it.

26 Oct 2018

Thicket

Student tries to hack through the thick grass, unable to figure out where they are.

“If only I remembered to pack my lawn mower.”

24 Oct 2018

Divergence of the Undergrad

Students are running away from a professor in the radial direction.

I won’t make a claim for this joke. I first heard it from one of my professors, and haven’t forgotten it since.

22 Oct 2018

Patching

The dream is that someone gives you a luxury car that works well, while the reality is that the bicycle tire gets patched.

“If you want the full service, I can even adjust the seat post!”

19 Oct 2018

Forgetful

Professor wonders how students haven't learned about black-body radiation, only to be reminded that they were the one that taught the course.

I kid you not, this actually happened.

17 Oct 2018

Non-Conservative

Graph of the status in your class versus how much of the course is done. The integral isn't zero around the loop.

We reward those who do good throughout the whole semester versus those who peak at the end, even though the end result is the same.

15 Oct 2018

Sweeping

Professor asks if student understands, and the students says yes while sweeping misconceptions under the rug.

And then a few days later, we ask for an explanation once again.

12 Oct 2018

Hunting

Person with a flashlight hunts for a sign error, which is hiding behind a rock.

“Don’t be scared, you want to be the right sign anyway.”

10 Oct 2018