I wasn’t expecting it, but someone on fluther managed to answer my question (see last post). Now I’m in an interesting position: I have a hunch that whenever this certain algebraic equation has nontrivial solutions, that corresponds to [...]
First of all, someone commented that it’s not really a conference, since it lasts for six months. More like a program. I’ve been in a tiny bit of a conundrum when talk times roll around: do I attend the talks, or do I keep at my own [...]
I’ve spent the last two days going over my problem, going over my approach, finding new gaps in my proof, fixing them… wash, rinse, repeat. It’s amazing that this vision of math as “getting to the right answer on your first try” [...]
I’m attending a conference in Berkeley, CA right now, at the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute, lovingly dubbed MSRI (pronounced “misery”). When I first started attending conferences I felt good if I understood the first half [...]
Link: Does one have to be a be genius to do math? Terry Tao, as much of a genius as we have, gives his answer. (Or is he just reblogging Jonathan Vos Post? Hard to say)
Link: Dance and Science! Together at last!
Link: What we learn in school I recently took on a remarkably talented tutee. Seeing the natural ease with which he, at 12 years old, sees deeply and sharply into all kinds of mathematical problems is a pleasure. For me, making sure this [...]
Link: “I was told there would be no math” When Sudoku came they said it didn’t involve any math, just logical thinking and pattern recognition. (No matter how we mathematicians claimed that logical thinking and pattern recognition [...]
Don’t just read it; fight it! Ask your own questions, look for your own examples, discover your own proofs. – Paul Halmos
Link: Teaching with the Socratic Method A professor of mine once said, speaking about his education, “If they had actually taught us anything, we’d all be geniuses!” And indeed, when I talk to people who hate/fear math, a bad [...]
Link: Awww…
Link: Hilbert’s Hotel I love this Waylay comic about Hilbert’s Hotel. She does a beautiful job of explaining the paradox succinctly, and of tapping into the sense of human (nonmathematician) frustration with the whole deal at the same [...]
Get tons of free content, like our Games to Play at Home packet, puzzles, lessons, and more!