Parts > Whole

  1. 32
  2. 3
  3. 14,684
  4. 242

What, you don't know what I'm telling you? These numbers don't mean anything to you? Random numbers. That's what they seem to be. You could probably guess a meaning for each of these numbers.  But, you'd be guessing, you wouldn't know. 

As far as arguing or making a statement, we don't have anything to talk about. Numbers without context are just nouns. No action needed. Until I give you more information, you probably don't have an opinion about these random figures. 

This is just how us mathematicians feel when a person hands us a paper lined with numbers.  These supposedly correct answers are connected to nothing. There's no context. There's no information.  There's no question. How are we supposed to know if the answer to #1 is 32? What was the question? How did you develop that answer? Can you back up the reason for 32 being correct? Did you guess? 

More often than not, it's more important that you can back up your answer than that  you got the right answer to begin with.  For that matter, life is like that.  Sure, you can live the American dream, but why? Can you explain why it matters? 

These numbers, like life, mean nothing until I give context and explain them. 

  1. 32 degrees fahrenheit is the temperature at which water freezes.  I need to know this because if the temperature outside is lower than 32 then there might be ice on the road for my car to slip on. 
  2. 3 is the number of persons in the godhead.  This is why we say that God is the great 3 in 1. 
  3. 14,684 is the number of bees in my hive.  That's a lot of little bodies that I'm responsible for. 
  4. 242 is the number of years since the US claimed its independence.  Relatively speaking, the US is a young nation.

Suddenly, these numbers seem much more important.  Not only do they mean more, but they open up a way into a great conversation and relationship. 

The answer isn't the only thing that matters.  Truly, in the case of mathematics and often in life, the parts are greater than the whole.  

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