This document discusses the concept of mathematical thinking and its importance for entrepreneurial success, emphasizing a higher-order way of understanding and solving problems. It critiques traditional school mathematics for its rigidity and suggests improvements that foster creativity and open-mindedness. The document highlights that adopting a mathematical mindset can enhance problem-solving abilities and prepare individuals for complex decision-making.

1. CONFIDENTIAL
28 March 2015
This document is solely for the use of MathsGenius Leadership Institute personnel and Advisory Board. No part of
it may be circulated, quoted, or reproduced for distribution without prior written approval from MathsGenius
Leadership Institute..
Mathematical thinking for entrepreneurial success
Gaussian Mind Trading and Projects
T/A MathsGenius Leadership Institute
Phone: +2778 585 8937
Title: Chief Genius
Website: www.mathsgenius.co.za
Email: info@mathsgenius.co.za
Presenter: Edzai Conilias Zvobwo
MathsGenius Leadership Institute
Twitter: @edzaizvobwo

2. What is mathematical thinking?
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Are you an architect if you:
•Dig trenches
•Pour concrete
•Bricklaying
•Carpentry
•Do Plumbing
•Do electrical wiring
•Roofing

3. What is mathematical thinking?
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“Mathematical thinking is the equivalent of
architecting. You need all of those individual
house-building skills to build a house. But
putting those skills together and making use
of them requires a higher-order form of
thinking. You need someone who can design
the building and oversee its construction.” –
Keith Devlin

4. What is mathematical thinking?
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Mathematical thinking is a whole way of
looking at things, of stripping them down to
their numerical, structural, or logical
essentials, and of analysing the underlying
patterns. Moreover, it involves adopting the
identity of a mathematical thinker.
How does a mathematician think?

5. Why mathematical thinking?
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1.Prepares you for optimal complex problem
solving and decision making (e.g. knowledge
of key ratios and other magic numbers)
2.Builds resilience and confidence.
3.Promotes resourcefulness(effectual
thinking vs. causal thinking)
4.Helps you become more creative and
critical.

6. MathsGenius Leadership Institute 2015 ©
Thinking like a mathematician - Steps
1.Identify the correct problem to solve.
2.Understand the problem.
3.Devise a plan.
4.Carry out the plan.
5.Evaluate.
In 1994, Saunders Mac Lane, offered intuition, trial, error, speculation,
conjecture, proof as the sequence in which we come to understand and
develop mathematics.

7. Why school maths sucked
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• A series of rigid rules and methods.
• No meaning in everyday life
• Timed exams
• No room for risk-taking and faith.
• Failure/wrong answer frowned upon
• Too much emphasis on neatness.
• Too abstract.
• Many teachers don’t appreciate the
subject

8. What can be improved?
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• Emphasis on brain platform development.
• Mathematical modelling and application.
• Room for creativity, open-mindedness and
versatility.
• Design and art thinking + faith
• Embracing of failure as critical to learning
• Efficiency in problem solving
• Frameworks for achieving first principles
• Appreciation of maths as a language

9. What can be improved?
MathsGenius Leadership Institute 2015 ©
• Role playing e.g. Hackathon
• Root-cause analysis (Appreciation of
cause and effect)
• Presentation of problem solving as a
continuous process
• Framework driven success.
• Redefinition of genius
• Change in mathematical blueprint

10. “Maths is to the mind, what love is to
the heart” – Edzai Conilias Zvobwo
MathsGenius Leadership Institute 2015 ©

11. Effectual thinking is a heuristic way of
reasoning that requires imagination and
risk-taking. And it this heuristic attribute
of the entrepreneurial reasoning that
makes mathematical training
advantageous to any aspiring
entrepreneur.
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