Mathematics is often considered as the most difficult subject. There are many formulas, notations, and complicated numbers that make it unlikable to most and make them hesitant to deepen their understanding of it. However, do you know? Mathematics is an important foundational skill that can be applied in your daily life.

One important aspect of mathematics is geometry, which is the study of measuring the distance between one point to another. Most people, even instructors, only know geometry that is found in school. In reality, geometry comes in many forms, one of them being the rarely-discussed Taxicab.

Kie Van Ivanky Saputra, Ph.D., UPH’s Head of Applied Mathematics of the Faculty of Science and Technology (FaST), said, “The Taxicab geometry is a new concept in mathematics. Therefore, not many know of it. Taxicab geometry plays an important role in everyone’s lives. For example, it is used in the Gojek, Grab, or any online transportation apps. In measuring distance, the apps will use the Taxicab geometry.”

Although it is a bit more complex than usual geometry, Ivanky Saputra stated that the Taxicab geometry will produce simpler results to be applied in our daily lives. He hopes that teachers who participate in the workshop can share the Taxicab geometry concept to their students.

The Infinitics 3 workshop, with the theme “Beyond the Finite, Break the Limit”, was held from 24 to 26 October 2019 at the UPH Lippo Village campus, explaining the concept of mathematics, including the Taxicab geometry, to teachers from eleven high schools. The seminar was organized by the Actuarial and Applied Mathematics Department of UPH and it aims to introduce mathematics as a subject that will support everyday lives.

High school students receive a similar lesson through an interactive workshop delivered by Koding Next, an educational institution invited to teach skills in the newest digital technology. There were more than a hundred high school students in attendance from local regions. The students were taught to make a business card using the Artificial Recognition program, where they were challenged to code. This shows that mathematics does not stand on its own, but is completed with other areas, such as coding or computer programming languages.

Teachers and students have testified that they were lucky to participate in the event. Pak Saujung, a teacher of SMA Dian Harapan, said that the workshop is unique in the sense that it opened a new perspective on mathematics. Saujung said, “I can deliver this newly-gained knowledge to my students.”

Albert, a senior in SMAK 4 Penabur, said that this is his first coding experience. Albert said, “One word to describe Infinitics and UPH: Awesome! In the workshop, I gained information I have previously not known. I can make an AR code through the business card that I made. The teaching will become beneficial to my life now and in the future.”

The events of Infinitics 3 do not stop at lectures and workshops; It was livened by high school level competitions such as the Mathematics Olympiad, Mathematics Intelligence Race, and Mathematics Modeling.