Archive for September, 2007

CW. The Surreal Numbers

September 26, 2007 · The Mathcast, guests, infinity, logic, paradoxes

What follows after 0, 1, 2, … , once you’ve managed to list every counting number?

Around 1875, Georg Cantor created — or discovered if you like — the transfinite ordinals : the list continues 0, 1, 2, …, then ω , ω + 1, ω + 2, etc, for quite a long long way. John H. Conway tells us about his Surreal Numbers , which add in such gems as

1 / √ ω

Check out Knuth’s Surreal Numbers, Conway & Guy’s Book of Numbers , or for more advanced users, Conway’s On Numbers and Games.

 
icon for podpress  Standard Podcast [10:04m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Comments

CV. Dividing the Loot

September 10, 2007 · The Mathcast, answers, game theory, logic, math puzzles, numbers

As B Boom wrote, the first pirate can make a proposal that gives him all but 49 (about, depending on the rules) pieces of
the gold. Read the rest of this entry »

 
icon for podpress  Standard Podcast [10:46m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Comments

The Math Factor
Podcast Website


Quality Math Talk Since 2004

May 5, 2008: Spring is beautiful here in the Ozarks and we are excited about all the terrific interviews we have slated for the next few weeks!

Want us to discuss something on the show? Let us know!

Heya! Do us a favor and link here from your site!