Of Mysteries & Mathematics

Have you ever stopped to think about the connection between being a good math student and being a good detective?

Every Christmas I grant myself the pleasure of reading a mystery novel. They're short, easy, and full of fun clues. I'm a huge Hercule Poirot fan. Turns out, we can learn a lot from Hercule on how to be a good learner. 

1. The little grey cells - M Poirot is always telling us to implement the little grey cells, that is your brain. Think! Take time to think about all that you've seen, heard, and done. There are even chapters titled, "Poirot sits down and thinks", do you sit down to think?
2. Pay attention - if nothing else, Hercule pays attention to everything, even the smallest detail, like the color of a man's boots. We need to pay attention to what we are being taught. 
3. Listen - The inspector always treats his helpers and witnesses with respect. He listens to what they have to say, even when they spout nonsense. A great student learns to listen to those who are on the path ahead of them to gather information. 
4. Review - A lot of information is hard to remember when it's presented all at once. In a typical mystery, the material is repeated to the reader. This is because through repetition, we remember the material. Take time to repeat the day's lessons to yourself over and over. 
5. Hastings - Okay, not Hastings exactly, but what he represents. Hastings is Hercule Poirot's assistant. While Hastings isn't the genius.  Much like Watson for Sherlock, Hastings is an accountability partner presenting opportunities for Hercule to analyze the mystery. In a good novel, a character like Hastings allows the author to repeat information the reader already knows, but he also shows us how important it is for us to have other people on this journey of learning. 

Having the ability to observe patterns, ponder ideas, and implement theories is at the heart of a great detective and the heart of a great math student.