Archive for guests

FR. Who Wants To Be A Mathematician?

Kyle and Chaim finally get back into the studio!

We first pose a quick question: If you drive fifty miles in fifty minutes, must there be some ten minute interval in which you drive exactly ten miles?

Of course there must — mustn’t there? Well prove it!

Our main feature this week is an interview with Michael Breen, from the American Mathematical Society, who came and hosted a game show “Who Wants To Be A Mathematician!” About a hundred high school students from all over northwest Arkansas came to cheer on their classmates; Kyle Strong of Har-Ber High in Springdale came in first, winning $1250, and Karan Batra, of Bentonville placed second with $250.

Our interview includes a few sample problems… I guess we shouldn’t list too many of them, in case Micheal wants to recycle them! Mike’s also responsible for the great series of Mathematical Moments posters— check them out!

Who Wants To Be A Mathematician

PS: We opened with the Up To One Million Dollars In Prize Money May Be Given Away gag… Always fun!

Comments (4)

FE. Burn The Rope

Edmund Harriss, sometime contributor to the Math Factor, makes his first appearance in this early segment, from February 29, 2004.

Comments

ES. The Ishango Bone

Dirk Huylebrouck, the Mathematical Tourist columnist in the Mathematical Intelligencer, tells us about the remarkable Ishango bone, a 22,000 year old arithmetical exercise!

Comments (2)

EQ. Ed Pegg Returns

Ed Pegg, of mathpuzzle.com , Wolfram research and consultant to the TV show Numb3rs, returns to discuss cellular automata and a fiendishly difficult puzzle.

Comments

EP. HIPE

Peter Winkler discusses the bonus chapter, on the word game HIPE, in his book, Mathematical Mind Benders!

Comments (7)

EL. Math Dance with Dr Schaffer and Mr Stern

Karl Schaffer of Math Dance shows us some geometry tricks!

Read the rest of this entry »

Comments

EJ. Math Factor at the Farmer’s Market

We visit the Fayetteville Farmer’s Market, soliciting math questions, and pose a problem about funny walks.

Comments (1)

EI. How to Pass a Cube Through Itself!

We conclude our interview with Dana Richards, editor of Martin Gardner’s Colossal Book of Short Puzzles and Problems pondering how to cut a hole through a cube large enough that another, same-sized cube can pass through!

Comments (3)

EG. The Colossal Book of Short Puzzles and Problems

Dana Richards, editor of The Colossal Book of Short Puzzles and Problems discusses the amazing Martin Gardner and his legacy!

Comments

EF. Visions of Symmetry

M.C. Escher expert Doris Schattschneider, author of Visions of Symmetry, sits down with us in Leeuwarden Friesland, Escher’s boyhood hometown, to discuss his life and work.

Comments (1)

The Math Factor Podcast Website


Quality Math Talk Since 2004, on the web and on KUAF 91.3 FM


A production of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark USA


Download a great math factor poster to print and share!

Got an idea? Want to do a guest post? Tell us about it!

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