Chapter 7 Together , we wrote two equations in bold strokes across that huge whiteboard : 3×5 = 75 * 3 = ? When we finished , I looked up and stared directly at Ms. Rodriguez . " Ms. Rodriguez , didn't you say that 3 times 5 doesn't equal 5 times 3 ? " Ms. Rodriguez couldn't look at me or Jaxon . Her eyes darted around frantically . " I ... I meant the approach was wrong .... the logic ... " " Perfect . " Jaxon clapped his hands twice , slowly . He stepped forward , took the marker from my daughter , and wrote across the top of the board in bold letters : " Proof of the Commutative Property of Integer Multiplication " He dropped the marker at Ms. Rodriguez's feet with a sharp " thwack . " " Aren't you the one who teaches logical precision ? " Jaxon's smile got even colder . " Then please , use any college - level mathematical logic - group theory , ring theory , or just go straight to Peano axioms - and prove why the commutative property of integer multiplication holds. " The principal's jowls were twitching , Dr. Peterson's mouth fell open , and sweat instantly broke out on Ms. Rodriguez's forehead . " You ... you're being ridiculous ! " Ms. Rodriguez stammered . " What does this have to do with elementary math competition prep ! " " It has everything to do with it . " My voice was ice cold . " Didn't you say you weren't teaching some kiddie math class , but ' logical precision ' ? Didn't you say you were all about following the directions ? " I stepped closer , staring straight into her shifty , guilty eyes . " Now I want you to use that ' precision ' and those ' directions ' you're so proud of to solve this problem . You seemed pretty confident when you ripped up my daughter's Chapter 7 perfect test . " " I ... " Ms. Rodriguez was speechless , couldn't get a word out . She was just some community college graduate who'd climbed her way up through office politics and brown - nosing . She didn't even understand what the problem was asking ! " Can't prove it ? " Jaxon let out a laugh full of contempt . " If you can't prove it , what gave you the right to destroy my daughter's perfect paper ?! " His voice suddenly boomed like thunder ! " I'm not a patient man . " Ms. Rodriguez's legs gave out and she collapsed onto the floor . Jaxon didn't spare her another glance . He pulled a small phone stand from his pocket and set up his phone facing the whiteboard . The screen lit up showing a live stream interface . The viewer count in the corner was climbing by thousands every second . " Oh , I forgot to mention . " Jaxon's voice sounded like a death sentence . " This little lesson about ' directions ' is being broadcast live . " He pointed at Ms. Rodriguez crumpled on the floor , then looked at the principal and Dr. Peterson who were shaking like leaves . Finally , his expression softened completely as he looked at my daughter . " Now, sweetheart , you're going to be the teacher . " " Show them - and everyone watching - how this problem should really be solved . " The live stream camera captured the huge office in dead silence , nothing but the sound of heavy , frantic heartbeats . My daughter - the same child they'd labeled as " psychologically unstable " -was now the only judge that mattered . She was still trembling , but when my hand covered hers and she saw Jaxon's encouraging look , the emptiness in her eyes flickered back to life . This tiny figure standing in front of that massive whiteboard picked up the marker . 3.3 % Chapter 7 The chat exploded : [ OMG they're making the kid do this ? This is brutal ! ] [ What kind of script is this ? That child looks terrified ! ] [ What are the parents thinking ?! ] But then my daughter started to speak . Her voice was still shaky from crying , timid but crystal clear : " 3 times 5 means you have 3 plates , and you put 5 pieces of candy on each plate . " She drew three wobbly circles on the board and put five little dots in each one . " That makes 15 pieces of candy total . " Then she drew five smaller circles next to them and put three dots in each . " 5 times 3 means you have 5 plates with 3 pieces of candy on each plate . If you count them up , it's still 15 pieces of candy . " She put down the marker and lifted her tear - stained little face toward the camera , then toward Ms. Rodriguez collapsed on the floor . Using every bit of strength she had , she asked : " The plates and candy switched places , but the candy didn't disappear ... Ms. Rodriguez , why is the answer the same but my thinking wrong? How was I cheating ? " Those simple , innocent words became the sharpest accusation possible , witnessed by millions of people , completely destroying the lies of Ms. Rodriguez , the principal , and Dr. Peterson ! The chat went absolutely insane . Chapter 8