Separation of Variables (and Heads)
A student objects that separating dy from dx is like decapitation; the teacher doesn't see the problem.
Content note: Decapitation joke.
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/2020-03-13-separation-of-variables/ (CC BY-NC 4.0)Transcript
Teacher (board: dy/dx = xy; (1/y) dy = x dx): "Then we simply separate the dy from the dx." Student: "But… isn't that kind of like separating one's head from one's body?" Teacher: "Your point?"