I enjoy solving puzzles, and math problems are great puzzles to me. I feel compelled to find answers to those puzzles, and the process of solving them gives me great satisfaction even if it consumes a lot of my time. I trace my interest in math to the exposure that my parents provided since elementary school.

The problem-solving process is especially rewarding if the answers are elegant or beautiful, or when I find unexpected connections or interesting patterns. The connections and patterns emerge as I ask myself questions: If I change the numbers in the problem statement, how does my answer change? How can I create a formula out of this? Can I generalize my answer? If I add other conditions, how and where does my proof break? I really enjoy solving problems that are proof-oriented open-ended free-response nature. They inspire me to delve deeper and identify new connections. Some interesting connections and nuggets of information that I found fascinating are here.

Another aspect about math that I love is the precision it offers. Even open-ended problems are structured in which the knowns and the goals are precisely stated. The different approaches to investigate such goals are logical and precise — such as proof by contradiction or induction.

I also love math because it is one of the few subjects that allow me to communicate ideas without any ambiguity. This aspect of math has furthered my interest in teaching math topics that I love, such as Geometry, Number Theory, and Combinatorics.