What did the math teacher say to the student who missed all the potatoes about smashing potatoes?

The math teacher playfully remarked to the student who missed all the potatoes, "You know, if you really want to understand how to smash potatoes, you have to first learn how to handle the numbers!" The teacher emphasized that just like in math, mastering the basics is essential before tackling the more challenging tasks. It was a light-hearted way to encourage the student to engage more with the subject.