GI. Mrs Perkins’ Electric Quilt
Paul Nahin discusses his fabulous new book “Mrs Perkins Electric Quilt“, mosquitos, falling through the Earth, whether mathematics is “real” and much more!
Archive for calculusey stuff
EZ. Google, Flutes and Monopoly
We ask: What do Google, flutes and monopoly have in common? In fact, important principles behind this question apply to an astounding array of phenomena!
(Since we’ve been offline for a week or so, due to a tremendous ice storm that has paralyzed the town, we add a special bonus: the very first Math Factor episode ever aired, from January 25, 2004.)
EO. Spaghetti Loops
Just why does e appear in so many guises?
Follow Up: Escaping the Beast
We can say a bit more about the Princess’s escape.
Amazingly, an optimal path for the Princess is to swim in a half circle of radius 1/8 that of the lake, then dash out to the edge.
We’ll give an analytic proof, but we could give a totally synthetic (geometric) proof as well.
BM. An astronomical cost!
The conclusion to the banana & camel puzzle.
BL. Eternally diminishing returns
With enough time and patience and bananas, can we go as far as we please?
BK. Bananas and Rockets
A classic puzzle reveals why rockets require so much fuel, even for wee payloads.
BJ. The Most Powerful Force
Albert Einstein is often quoted as saying that compound interest is the most powerful force in the universe. He didn’t really say that, but the sentiment is valid. If you compound more and more frequently, is there a limit on the interest one can earn?
AG. The Eagle
How to do infinitely many things in a few minutes!
AE. The Jalopy
An old jalopy zooms up and down Arkansas hills…
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