From PEMDAS To Collatz Conjecture: A Love Story

The classic math flirtation escalates from basic arithmetic to the Collatz conjecture faster than you can say "order of operations." First panel: cute small talk about loving math. Second panel: suddenly we're discussing Terence Tao's work on almost bounded values in Collatz orbits—one of the most notorious unsolved problems in mathematics. Meanwhile, that simple equation (6 ÷ 2(1+2) = 1) is just sitting there, causing internet flame wars because people can't agree if the answer is 1 or 9. It's like bringing a knife to a thermonuclear war. The mathematical equivalent of saying "I like jogging" and your date responding with their complete strategy for winning an ultramarathon on Mars.