As a child in math class, KC Cole (@kccole314) found satisfaction in canceling, the process of reducing fractions to the smallest denominator. In her recent first-person essay for Wired, Cole reflects on the connection between basic arithmetic concepts and humans’ tendency to embrace simplistic methods of dealing with thorny societal problems. Instead, she writes, we should look toward an additive approach to both improving our world and understanding ourselves. Image via Creative Commons
