3/23/2020

My dear Friend & POTUS, DJT,

Math rescued me today. Maybe it can rescue you, too.

Who would think that logarithms could sooth one’s anxiety? That an equation could lift one’s spirits? That a statistic could bring relief? Well for me, and many math nerds out there, bring on the numbers to bring us some peace. Better yet give us a problem to solve to take us away from the troubles of the moment and transport us to a place where things make sense.

            Why am I telling you this? Well, I woke up this morning to more news that made my imagination go wild - unemployment is likely to hit 30%, grocery store shelves are empty, governors are scrambling to get emergency gear and gun sales are up, especially to Chinese-Americans. Things got worse when I read in today’s WP that we are in the midst of “a viral outbreak that requires bipartisan cooperation, verbal precision and a reliance on bureaucratic expertise” and we are having doubts about our ability to “meet the moment.”

            I was heading to a very dark place until I saw an article in today’s NYT about a logarithmic graph showing the rate of growth of CV is slowing in Italy. I found comfort in seeing that this too shall pass, even though it will get worse before it gets better.

So, it’s time to keep calm, and carry on. I encourage you to reach deep to find your composure. Remember, it’s not about you, and blame is not a solution. Keep pulling out graphs and emphasizing that our efforts are to “flatten the curve” and slow the spread. Uniting us is your most important job right now, so avoid attacking people, be your best self and do some math.

HYITL,