Math with Bad DrawingsCartoon Archive

Perfect Explanation

March 8, 2018

An exasperated explainer insists they explained it perfectly; the listener suggests understanding should be part of the definition.

Use this cartoon

Free for classrooms, worksheets, slides and other non-commercial use under CC BY-NC 4.0, with credit to Ben Orlin.

Cartoon by Ben Orlin, Math with Bad Drawings. https://cartoons.mathwithbaddrawings.com/2018-03-08-perfect-explanation/ (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Transcript

A: "How do you not understand this? I explained it perfectly!"

B: "Maybe your notion of 'perfect explanation' should include 'person I'm explaining to understands it.'"

Topics
Math Culture › TeachingMath Culture › Math Communication
Level
All Ages
Themes
Teachers & ClassroomStudent LifeFor Teachers (Classroom Satire)