CE. Big Numbers
We’re well on our way towards describing the two largest numbers that have ever been used! Unfortunately, there are at least three errors in this segment of the Math Factor–can you spot them all?
Archive for numbers
Q&A: Why is 0! = 1?
David R. of Palo Alto writes:
Have you ever discussed factorials on your podcast? I don’t recall,
but a friend and I are puzzled and so of course we turn to you: Why
is “zero factorial” 1? Was it simply defined that way to frustrate
all of us nonmath folks, or is there a valid explanation?
CD. Alas, Up To A Million Dollars Might Have Been Given Away.
We discuss the results of the fabulous Math Factor Million Dollar Giveaway. and confess this was an excuse to bring up Game Theory and how to talk about really big numbers.
BW. The Math Factor Million Dollar Give Away!!!
Up to $1,000,000 in Prize Money May Be Given Away! Whoever sends us the largest number wins the prize– a million dollars divided by the winning entry!
(So, if everyone could just hold it together and send in the number “1”, we’ll be out a lot of dough! Of course, if everyone else sends in “1”, you might consider being a rascal and sending in “2”… this is a slippery slope though…)
BV. 9’s Strike Again
BU. The Online Mind Reader
BF. Catching Errors
Credit card numbers have an error catching code, that uses the tricks of the last few weeks.
BE. Trap door encryption
Is this podcast legally a “munition”? Old ideas in number theory are the basis for a whole new class of powerful encryption schemes that underlie the modern internet economy.
We just use the tools we discussed in the last couple of weeks, in a new way.
BD. Magic Numbers
We discuss a neat trick involving powers, mod a pair of primes.
BC. Casting Out Nines
How do modern “trap-door” encryption schemes work? Over the next three weeks we'll explain, but to warm up, we talk about the medieval practice of “casting out nines”.
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