You explain how wavelets are a lot like notes in music. Instead of a continuous wave it’s like a single note making up a complicated chord. You then go on to explain how that can reconstruct all sorts of signals just like reconstructing a song. For a few moments you transition back and forth between math and music metaphors.
“So your research is studying music? I always thought you were great on the clarinet in middle school, you should have kept that up” your mom comments.
“Sort of but not really, if you can think of more signals like different radio waves, just defined with like notes on a song” you respond. You begin oscillating a wavelet analysis function with your hand up and down. Your family stares at you with a blank face, you’re not sure if they understand it or not. What do you do?