Numbers, letters and exponential growth
Mixing slightly arbitrary abstract systems can be fun. The two systems that nearly everyone has to deal with are our systems for sound (the alphabet) and for quantity and order (numbers). So taking… Read More
Category Archive: Mathematics
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Mathematics out loud
We are used to reading mathematics, we are also used to hearing it spoken in lectures. I can think of few examples of the natural way to combine these. Why do we… Read More
Have we ever lost mathematics?
If you study the history of modern mathematics one of the recurring themes is the collapse of the foundations. A realisation that the assumptions underlying a topic were not as strong as might… Read More
The 2×1 rectangle and Domes
Next week I am going to be at the Gathering for Gardner, an exciting meeting of mathematicians, magicians, puzzlers and others inspired by the life and work of Martin Gardner. This post is… Read More
Prime Phyllotaxis Spirals
The phyllotaxis spiral is one of the classical forms of mathematics, and there is a wonderland of resources available online both images and explanations. The basic idea is to put points round in… Read More
Polynomials in Wood
What has got to do with wood? Like you until a few days ago I would have said “Probably nothing” then I came across this chart: Where it relates to how the bending… Read More
2+2 = 1? Patterns in Modular arithmetic
When someone is talking about the absolute truth of mathematics and declares that once you have defined 2 and +, then 2+2 must equal 4, there is a slightly glib response: but 2+2… Read More
Hyperboloid lighting
The hyperboloid of one sheet is a fascinating shape that turns up in many places. It was therefore a great example to take for a test of thearender which I recently purchased. This… Read More
Don Quixote tilts at Zeta functions
A friend of mine, Rohit Gupta (@fadesingh) has been doing some of the most creative mathematics communication out there. Using myths, stories, puzzles and poetry he has been making deep questions of mathematics… Read More
Magnetic Klein Quartic
The Klein Quartic is a absolutely fascinating object and worthy of a post in its own right, or even a book. It is clear evidence of the explosion of imagination and creativity in… Read More
Hexayurt dome details and models
Edit 4/8/12: Andrew Maxwell, Tracy Suskin, Ying Yang, students at SAIT polytechnic in Canada, have put together the engineering details for the tri-dome. People are now starting to build my tri-dome and quad-dome… Read More
