The case for practical maths?
A New York Times Op-Ed piece makes the case for maths for life, and not just for the classroom. The article’s authors, Sol Garfunkel and David Mumford, argue strongly in favour of a maths curriculum that exists in relation to the science, engineering, finance (and so on) that it serves every day, and they say [...]
Read the whole postProud to be innumerate?
In a UK report which looks at the limited impact of the money spent on the the Skills for Life programme, author Dame Mary Marsh points out that poor numeracy is somehow far less shameful than poor literacy, and calls for a cultural shift in the nation’s attitude to maths.
Read the whole postGoogle hides a maths puzzle in an extended advert
we’re not in the habit of falling for promotional videos with cute themes all the time. But this one, from Google’s Chrome OS team, is worth a look for two reasons: playful destruction, and maths.
Read the whole postMaths Lectures from Gresham College
The God of Whizz came across the Gresham College YouTube channel earlier today, featuring some interesting clips from a lecture by cosmologist and Gresham College Geometry professor, John Barrow, on everyday maths.
Read the whole postPies and Pi – the hidden formula
Pi is a wonderful, fabulous, and famously irrational number. It even knows when you’re hungry, as the below mathematical equation amply demonstrates. As comedy maths puzzlers go, this one is a little forced, but nevertheless fun to share. I confess it took The God of Whizz a few goes to figure out that Pi = [...]
Read the whole postA fancy trick for squaring larger numbers
The excellent Steven Strogatz, writing in last month’s New York Times Opinionator, gave another elegant lecture on high-school maths and algebra problems – including a fancy trick for squaring larger numbers. The God of Whizz is behind on his reading, so I’ve come to this post late. But the trick was enough to impress the [...]
Read the whole post