Applied Math
Algebra, Asimov, and Missing Steps
When I was young, I could not get algebra. In particular, I would encounter magical operations like this: [latex]x + 5 = 8[/latex] followed by: [latex] x =…
Essential Math
Articles
Essential Math
Ten Great Quick Calculators for Computer Users
From time to time, computer users may need to perform a quick calculation such as adding or multiplying two large numbers. This is particularly true if the computer…
Essential Math
Are Fingerprints Unique?
On March 11, 2004 a series of bombs exploded aboard four commuter trains in Madrid, Spain, killing 192 people and injuring 2050. The Spanish police recovered a bag…
Essential Math
What are the odds? Flipping 10 heads in a row
singingbanana released an interesting video about the odds of flipping 10 heads in a row. It is basic probability and the video is entertaining enough to warrant sharing…
Essential Math
Teaching Prime Numbers to Children
The other day I received a math book that’s geared towards children. It’s called “You Can Count On Monsters” (USA | UK | Canada) by Professor Richard Evan…
Applied Math
On Concavity, Calculus, and Crescents
Concavity characterizes so much of the world — from the distribution of sizes of animal species, to the potential return-on-investment from small vs large companies, to the temperature…
Essential Math
Developing Math Intuition
Today Kalid Azad released a premium edition of his well-received Math Better Explained ebook. This brand new edition (available for a limited time for just $47) boasts a…
Essential Math
Interview with Derrick Niederman, author of Number Freak
In this interview we sit down with author and mathematician Derrick Niederman to discuss his engaging, recently published book about the first two hundred natural numbers, ‘Number Freak:…
Essential Math
The Cost of Not Understanding Probability Theory
Misconceptions about probability theory and statistics have major repercussions on society. From seemingly minor things like the excessive sensationalism of some headlines, all the way to the jailing…
Essential Math
Review of Math for Moms and Dads
Last weekend I had a chance to read Math for Moms and Dads, which I received from Kaplan as a review copy. This book aims to providing a…
Essential Math
That’s impossible!
Imagine a rope that was just long enough to wrap tightly around the equator of a perfectly spherical earth. Now imagine that the length of that rope is…
Essential Math
Thought-provoking Mathematical Videos
1. The Tenth Dimension 2. Outside in (Turning a sphere inside out) 3. Flatland the film (Trailer) The full movie is available on DVD, and of course, you…