Mental Mathematics

Life was much simpler when I was a kid. Everything was transitive. The mathematics of my life was pretty basic. There was not much beyond a line segment, a circle, a square or a triangle. The DMAS seemed cool enough. But then I grew up.

The equations became differential, (D(M(A)S) was parenthesised, the line lost its segment, the square turned into a quadrilateral, the triangle became a polygon and the circle turned vicious. The drawing and crossing of lines had a different meaning now. True and false became multiple-choice questions. And almost every time, I found myself checking "none of the above". I don't know the hows and whys, but the geometry of my life was distorted. 

Algebra was pretty smooth until I was asked to find the variable x. And after a few incipient calculations, I thought I had it. But one plain variable wasn't enough. The equations became quadratic, the numbers became irrational and the solution changed with the direction of inequalities. I have been after x since then. I sense it around but have never been able to put a finger on it. 

The numbers became complex, and the solutions became imaginary. Iota of doubts arose and intelligence became artificial. I don't know if this is growing up or growing old. But every equation I try to solve leaves me with more variables I begin with. Perseverance is the key, they said. Not destination but the journey is the life, they said. Practice makes one perfect, they said. Then no one is perfect, they said. I am worn out now. Whenever I think my eureka moment is here, the equation is changed and the variables are switched. Linear, quadratic, cubic or polynomial, it never mattered; x remains unknown. 

Now I am left with polynomial equations, and encircled in an irregular polygon, in a spatial location defined by imaginary unidimensional extent, an x to find.

My geometry is contorted throughout the circle, the vicious one.

Losing a mark hurt back then. Now it's the leftover mark that hurts.  

Such multitudinous intricacies of growing up.