Identifying the Why

In a classic comedy sketch with Flip Wilson, a young Michael Jackson is faced with a simple math problem: dividing money among friends. But instead of solving it correctly, he uses his own reasoning — and somehow ends up with more money than he started with.

The audience laughs, because it is absurd. The math does not work. And yet, in the moment, Michael’s logic almost sounds convincing. Depending on your perspective, he is either terrible at math or an up-and-coming entrepreneur.

As funny as it is, that skit holds up a mirror to what happens in real classrooms every day. Students who do not understand the underlying concepts of math will often invent their own shortcuts, rules, or “logic.” Sometimes those ideas are wildly off-base. Other times, they reveal an incredible creativity that just needs direction.

This is why identifying the why matters.

If we only teach students to memorize steps, they might arrive at answers that “work” in the short term but fall apart in the long run. But if we help them uncover the reasoning behind the steps, they gain something far more valuable than a right answer: they gain understanding.

And with understanding comes confidence. With confidence comes the ability to apply math to real problems, real decisions, and real opportunities. That is where problem-solving becomes life preparation.

At Math Matters Consulting™, we believe math is not just about getting the right number. It is about teaching students to reason, to question, and to connect ideas. Because the same spark of creativity Michael Jackson showed in that skit (the instinct to flip the rules, to test the boundaries, to imagine another way) is the same spark that, when guided, can turn students into innovators, problem-solvers, and leaders.

That is our why. To move beyond “getting the answer” and instead help teachers guide students toward real mathematical thinking, the kind that lasts far beyond the classroom.