Geometry and the Gospel: Why Formulas Work

Kevin Burtt produced an analogy that I find useful for teaching. Sometimes we use mathematical or geometrical formulas without knowing why they work. That is fine. We'll still get the right result, even if we don't understand WHY it works. The problem comes when we decide that the formula needs to be altered without understanding whether the alteration will work. The analogy to the commandments is obvious and understandable.