The story starts with two math people in an elevator, complaining about the "Muzak" that's piped in and inescapable. They complain about how trite and shallow it is, nothing like "real music". Consider this some heavy-handed foreshadowing.
Later they are enthusiastically discussing how they are engaged in a program to help the wider population become better at math ... no more "I'm no good at math" from people unable to add fractions. Instead people will become capable and effective mathematicians, bringing widespread improvement to all aspects of life, theirs and others.
When the plan succeeds, everyone is "doing math", and to their horror the world is flooded with math that is as deep and useful as "Muzak", akin to numerology and astrology.