But isn鈥檛 the answer zero?听
鈥淲ell, it鈥檚 not quite that simple. The pupils had discovered an exotic detail, of an almost mathematical-philosophical character. The answer could just as easily be one, or anything in between. It depends on how you approach and define the problem,鈥� says Jonas Bergman 脛rleb盲ck.听
Your special appearance as extra teacher at the Sk盲ggetorp Primary School was popular, and the school鈥檚 thank-you post on Facebook had been seen by 23,000 users after just a few days. Your reaction?听
鈥淚 had no idea! That鈥檚 brilliant!鈥澨�
And how did it go? Could you give the pupils an answer?听
鈥淪ure, but the answer isn鈥檛 that straightforward, as I just said. We discussed the problems involved, and thought through it together. I truly enjoy encountering their curiosity, and being able to help them make progress in their thinking. Getting them to realize that maths is much more than the four basic operations.鈥澨�
鈥淭hey had lots of other questions, for instance what is it like to study maths at university, how difficult are the maths problems in the engineering programmes, what we mathematicians do research on鈥�We had lots to talk about 鈥� in addition to algebra and powers.鈥澨�
Extra teacher for one lesson. Maybe more university teachers should try that?听
听鈥淒epending on which field you work in, there are more or less natural opportunities for that sort of meeting. I work in mathematics teaching methodology and I teach future maths teachers at LiU, so it鈥檚 really rewarding to be 鈥榦ut in the field鈥� and to meet pupils. So of course I think it鈥檚 positive. And it can also be a good opportunity for pupils to meet professionals and get inspired to continue their studies.鈥澨�
Why do you think the school asked you to come and visit this class?听
鈥淚t鈥檚 probably mostly because Sk盲ggetorp Primary is progressive in its teaching methods. The teacher, Malin Ramstr枚m, has been a researching teacher in a collaboration on mathematics teaching between LiU, Norrk枚ping Municipality and Link枚ping Municipality, that I also was involved in. So it was natural to get in touch with me.鈥澨�
Could it also have to do with your past as a clarinet player in LiTHe Bl氓s, a student band at LiU?听
听鈥淢alin and I were actually both members of LiTHe Bl氓s at the same time, back in the day. Extra-curricular activities often give you contacts for life, and these can come in handy when you least expect it.鈥澨�
Photo: and private