- Rice students typically call their homework that involves stem type questions problem sets. It is called this because the homework is a set of problems that need to be solved. P-set is a way to shorten problem set and carry the same general meaning. This was likely said instead because it is quicker to say. Often when people say problem set they are currently working on it, so shortening what they say allows them to spend less time explaining what they are doing and more time working on it.
P-set
clipping; noun
a group of homework questions needing to be solved
Etymology : formed from clipped root problem and root set
Source : “Are you working on a p-set?” (friend, October 2020)
Last modified: 25 November 2020