You Can Explain Anything If You Break It Into Small Enough Steps

If you take too big a conceptual jump, people fall off. Most textbooks have 6-to-10-foot gaps every few pages, and only people with exceptional aptitude can clear them. Break it into smaller steps and even grandma can cross the creek.

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As Jason discusses ~8:53 in Math Academy Podcast #4, Part 2:

“You can explain anything if you break it into small enough steps.

It’s trying to take too big a jump, where people fall off.

Think of it as rocks placed along a creek.

• If they’re 3 inches apart then grandma can cross them.
• If it’s a foot and a half then I can do it.
• If it’s 3 feet then my son can.

That’s what happens in math.

Because the pedagogy is so bad and the jumps are so big, you need someone who could do a standing broad jump of 9 feet to make it.

Only super gifted, brilliant people can do it. Otherwise they’re landing in the water.

Textbooks often have these 6 and 8 and 10-foot jumps every few pages, and it takes someone with incredible athletic ability or incredible mathematical aptitude to make those jumps.

Otherwise they’re just like, man, I don’t know. I fall into the river and I’m floating down the creek. Well, this sucks.”

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