Mathematical Things to do This St. Patty's Day Weekend

As spring slowly thaws the ice from the ground, we celebrate the life of the foremost patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick. The holiday is celebrated all over the world, with shamrocks and green clothing galore! Here is a list of a few (slightly) mathematical things you can do this weekend to celebrate.

Advanced Knowledge Problem of the Week

Check out this week's Winter-themed Advanced Knowledge Problem of the Week! Let us know how you did in the comments!

Solution below the break.

Kidnapped Leprechaun- A St. Patrick's Day Special!

In lieu of our normally scheduled Advanced Knowledge Problem of the Week, today's problem is St. Patrick's day-themed. See if you can help Paddy escape from his captors!

Stumped? Check out the solution below!

Holiday Math: Secret Santa

Around the holidays, one fun tradition is to set up an arrangement wherein members of a group anonymously trade gifts with one another, a process which is often called "Secret Santa." In this new video by the Center of Math, we mathematically investigate the odds that randomly assigning people around will create a valid exchange: it's a bit more complicated than you might think! Keep reading to watch it here.

The Holiday Math Gift Guide: Best Gifts for the Math Enthusiast in Your Life! (Part 2)

With the holiday season in full swing, the Center of Math wanted to share with you some great gift giving ideas for the math enthusiast in your life. We had a post like this last year, which you can check out here for even more great ideas. This year we've added some new categories and removed some of the old to keep up with the ever-changing market.  So keep reading to see some great gift ideas hand-picked by the WCoM staff.

Holiday Math: Dreidel Simulation

Happy Hanukkah, Center of Math fans! Since today's the first day (in Cambridge) of the holiday, I decided to take a mathematical/computational look at the dreidel game, one of the many traditions practiced on Hanukkah. Keep reading to learn how the game is played, and to see what I found out with my simulation of the game—the results may surprise you!

Thanksgiving: Facts and Figures

With Thanksgiving approaching this week, we wanted to take a look at a few numerical facts and figures about the holiday. Keep reading for a text version of all the content in the image, plus more!

Advanced Knowledge Problem of the Week

It's four days before All Hallow's Day, so I guess that makes today Hallowe'en-e'en-e'en-e'en? Here's another pumpkin spice flavored Advanced Knowledge Problem of the Week to celebrate it. 

Keep reading to see my formulation of the solution!

Seven Math-Inspired Halloween Costumes

Halloween is approaching and October is coming to an end, so it seems it's time to start thinking about costumes! What will your costume be this year? A ghost? A mummy? How about something inspired by math? At the Worldwide Center of Mathematics, we really love math and Halloween, so keep reading for some awesome costume ideas!

Celebrating World Teachers' Day!

Happy World Teachers' Day! The Center of Math wanted to extend our gratitude and appreciation for teachers across the world! We asked some of our staff members and friends to share with us how teachers have made a positive impact on their lives. Keep reading to see what people had to say.

Throwback Fact: Three German Mathematicians

Happy Oktoberfest! With the annual festival taking place right now in Germany, the Center of Math wanted to celebrate by talking about three famous German mathematicians for this week's Throwback Fact.

Five Math Dates For Everyone

It can be hard to think of date ideas. Whether it’s a first date, or the hundredth, each date should be fun for both parties. Here at Worldwide Center of Mathematics, we know how great math is, so we came up with five math-inspired dates. Keep reading, there's something for everyone!

3 Memorial Day Mathematicians

image: www.nj.com

For the Center of Math, along with our United States fanbase, today is a public holiday. Many Americans celebrate with a backyard barbeque, or a day at the beach, but it's important to remember what Memorial Day is really for!

Of course, we're celebrating here by honoring a few math-minded people who have served in the United States armed forces. While there are surely many mathematicians who have served their countries all around the world (Alan Turing comes to mind), here are three Americans that you may not have heard of...

Mother's Day Special: Variation of the Simple Marriage Problem

One of my favorite things to do at the Center is create video content for fun math topics. The intern here before me did two "Holiday Specials" around Thanksgiving and Christmas, and I decided to continue his work! One of my first math videos was the Valentine's Day Special: Monty Hall problem. That one was a lot of fun.

This Sunday is Mother's Day (hi Mom!), so I took a math topic that I think is fun and themed it to fit the holiday. The Stable Marriage Problem is the famous mathematical scenario that we chose. Instead of a small village that has 10 women and 10 men who need to be paired in matrimony, we used mothers and the presents that their children picked out for Mother's Day.

Cinco de Mayo Mathematician Highlight

After doing a little research, I’ve discovered that Cinco de Mayo is a holiday celebrated possibly more in the United States than in Mexico, its country of origin. Cinco de Mayo began as the celebration of a battle- it commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over France at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. This victory was particularly important in the Franco-Mexican war because it was an impossible feat as the Mexicans won against a much better equipped army.

In the United States, it is often utilized by Mexican Americans as a celebration of Mexican culture, including festivals and parades in some cities. In typical Center of Math fashion, we will use this opportunity to feature a prominent Mexican mathematician, Fray Diego Rodriguez!

Math and the Earth (and a Giveaway!)

Math intern Tori and two friends in Center of Math wristbands out in nature.
Find out how to get your own at the bottom of the post!

In the Center of Math's 100^th blog post, let's talk about Monther Earth. 

Math and nature go together. Despite the math quote of the week that we posted last Sunday, I think that math is not a construct of the human mind- it’s always existed and it always will. This is evidenced all over. Sunflower seeds are arranged on the flower in a golden spiral, the ratio between your forearm and hand is the Golden Ratio, objects fall to Earth at (ignoring air resistance) an exponential rate, and the fractal patterns found on Romanesco broccoli (pictured below with a sunflower) are mesmerizing. In fact, the universe may even be made of math.

Throwback Fact: Pi Day

image: flickr.com

This Saturday, March 14th, is known as the "Ultimate Pi Day" because the first 10 digits of pi (3.141592653) line up with an observable time: March 14th, 2015 at 9:26:53 AM or PM. 

But actually, all infinite digits are represented.

All of the digits after the first 10 are not quite observable. But about halfway between the 9:26:53 and 9:26:54, there will also be 58 centiseconds, 97 deciseconds, and so on until infinity.

This fact is exciting mathematicians into celebrating Pi Day even if they haven't bothered before. In fact, choosing March 14th to celebrate Pi annoyed a few mathematicians. Using 3.14 cuts Pi into a tiny approximation, and ignores everything that makes Pi incredible, like its transcendentalism.

The Holiday Math Gift Guide: Best Gifts for the Math Enthusiast in Your Life!

 The Holiday Math Gift Guide: 
Best Gifts for the Math Enthusiast in Your Life!

     Happy Holidays! Are you looking for gift ideas for the mathematician in your life this holiday season? Are you a mathematician yourself, making your wish-list and checking it twice? Then this holiday gift guide for the mathematician can help!

     A simple search online will return hundreds, if not, thousands of math-related clothes. Shirts and hats are most-popular and commonly feature mostly-tired math jokes and puns. If you're recipient is a new or young enthusiast, you might add this classic ($23.95, Zazzle) or one like it to their wardrobe. Here's an everyday hat featuring Schrödinger's wave equation ($21.95 at Zazzle).

     When considering clothing, we encourage you to step it up. Accordingly, this year we most like the Mathematics Ugly Christmas Sweater ($34.95, TeeSpring). This 100% cotton, USA made beauty is sure to turn your mathematician into the talk of the party, class or study group. Dealing with somebody who's wishing for a more hands-on present? Why not set them out to knit their own ($16.41, Amazon) ugly math sweater. May we recommend Σ (notably missing from TeeSpring's offering) for your design?

Ugly Math Sweater

     Actually fashionable, Doug McKenna's scarves ($77.00, DMCK Designs) feature fractal tiling patterns inspired by the space-filling curves introduced by 19th century Italian mathematician, Giuseppe Peano.

     For more math clothing ideas, check out Algebra Cat ($22.40, Redbubble), the Center of Math ($9.95, Center of Math) and for the mathematician who's expecting, this cute onesie from TreeHouse Apparel ($14.00, Etsy).

Algebra Cat

     Mathematicians are problem solvers. They like to be challenged and stay sharp. The games and toys you give them should help exercise their minds. We've chosen just a few of our favorites to list here.

     First, mathematicians need peace and quiet in order to exercise the mind. True to ancient Roman design, the Exclusive Wooden Catapult Kit ($29.99, ThinkGeek) is a must-have toy/tool for the mathematician's work space. Loud neighbor? Somebody stealing all your pencils? Once constructed, this catapult will lob objects over 20 feet and is perfect for protecting pencils and peace. If building a toy sounds good, check to see if this Wooden Mechanical Clock Kit (sold out, ThinkGeek) is back in stock.

Catapult

     We had fun watching Maths Gear explain their Shapes of Constant Width ($12.29, Maths Gear).

     Now, games, particularly strategy games, are tremendously popular. If you're unfamiliar with 2048, Sudoku, STRATEGY, you should start there. We love Perplexus, the makers of brain teasing maze and sequential puzzles. Check out the Perplexus Epic ($28.80, Amazon) for any patient, determined mathematicians you may know. The company advertises the toy as being "like a puzzle inside an enigma, wrapped in a maze, on a date with a riddle...at a confusion convention." Cool. Traditional games too easy or old? Why not mix it up with a pair of Sicherman Dice ($6.25, Grand Illusions)? You can use these unique dice to play most of the games you normally would without changing the odds!

     First, here's some of this year's most-desired electronic video game gifts, liked by mathematicians: Civilization V, Minecraft, and games from Blizzard Entertainment (including: World of Warcraft, Starcraft 2 and Diablo 3.)

     Of course, to play them you'll need a gaming console or PC. Industry leaders Sony and Microsoft are dueling this season, selling Playstation 4's ($419.99, Amazon) and Xbox One's (349.99, Amazon) respectively. Both are good options but do your homework before buying! For mathematicians interested in gaming and code you should consider buying a PC instead or kit to build your own! The Dell Alienware Area 51 (2014) ($1,699, Dell) is an absolute beast of a machine. New Egg is a good place to buy the parts you'll need to build your own machine. If that's not enough to keep your gamer busy, also gift them Matrices, Vectors and 3D Math: A Game Programming Approach With MATLAB ($9.95, Center of Math).

     For the mathematician excited by aeronautics, we recommend the entry-level Parrot Minidrone Rolling Spider ($99.99, Parrot).

Parrot Minidrone

     Give the gift of a WolframAlpha Pro subscription ($5.49/mo., WolframAlpha). It's perfect for students and is sure to make any mathematician smile.

     None of the above electronics options above have your hair sticking straight up? You could give the gift of a math-movie pack! Check here for Wikipedia's list of films about math and here for Harvard University's Prof. Oliver Knill's "Mathematics in Movies" page. If none of these things make your mathematician happy, simply show them this video explaining the algorithms behind "hitting it off." Offer to pay the registration fee, if there is one. Math and match-making. What's not to love?

     Every mathematician needs a neat (read: cool, not necessarily clean) workspace. Take a look at our best guesses to fill the office or workspace:

     Start with a gift certificate to the preferred caffeine supplier in your local area. For Center of Math employees in New England, that means you're choosing either Dunkin' Donuts or Starbucks gift cards. Each company offers unique features and rewards if the card-holder links the preloaded gift card to the company rewards program. Many mathematicians require coffee. Coffee requires a good mug. We recommend the Chalkboard Mug ($14, Exploratorium) which will allow for uninterrupted sipping and note-taking. If scribbling on a liquid-filled mug sounds like asking for trouble to you, simply go with this classic.

Engineer Mug

     If you have the space, we really like the Offex Mobile Double-sided Magnetic Whiteboard ($299.99, Amazon). Whiteboard or blackboard? You had better check before buying -- some mathematicians won't work on one or the other! We also like Magic Whiteboard ($66.99, MagicWhiteboard) for more confined spaces or the traveling mathematician. Like we recently did in the Center of Math's Studio Classroom, you could upgrade the furniture your mathematician works in! Here's the comfy LexMod mesh chairs our visitors now sit in.

     Thinking smaller (and cheaper): Check out the pure math sculpture art at Bathsheba Sculpture or Henry Segerman's Mathematical Art shop. Or, how about a gift to make your own hypotrochoid art ($8.00, Uncommon Goods). Now you've got the desk and walls covered. How about some plant life? We'd argue the best buy for a mathematician is Sprout Growing Pencils ($24.99, ThinkGeek).

     Finally, a subscription for ad-free music streaming will keep your mathematician moving and grooving. Try Spotify, Pandora or Rdio.

     Any mathematician would appreciate the opportunity to join the American Mathematical Society ($69/yr., AMS) or Mathematics Association of America ($169/mo., MAA) free of charge. Like the Dunks' vs 'Bucks (not sure anybody calls it that) debate above, each organization is unique and you should explore both before purchasing your membership.

     If you had something a bit more grand in mind, consider sending your mathematician on a math-inspired trip! Not sure where to go? San Antonio, TX will host the Joint Mathematics Meetings 2015 in January. Find out more here. MAA's MAAthFest will be in Washington, D.C. in August, 2015. The Center of Math will be at both!

     Texas too big or too far? Consider sending your math-maniac to the one and only Cambridge, MA. The Boston-Cambridge Metro area is ideal for the traveling math enthusiast. Like baseball (the statisticians game)? Triple Crown Travel's East Coast Swing ($2,495, Triple Crown Travel) would bring you here. Should you decide to make the trip, be sure to come find us!

     Let's assume you're unamused. Here's our gathering of nearly-random, miscellaneous math gifts to consider:

     Time-telling: Ever look at a mathematician's clock? Get one here. How about a watch? Try the Maths Equation Watch for Mathematics Nerds ($49.95, Zazzle) or the Prime Time Watch ($38, Uncommon Goods).

     Pi Bowls: Pi Day is rapidly approaching! We like the idea of serving company snacks in the Pi Bowl or Pi Basket. Speaking of Pi, here's an inspired shower curtain.

Pi Shower Curtain

     Lights: 'Tis the Season for lights! We think you should ditch your bulb and try Plumen 001 designer bulbs ($34.95, Plumen). We also came across Studio Cheha Flat LED lamps ($120, Studio Cheha) and had to share.

And last but not least!

     One of the top gifts for mathematicians this year, of course, will be books! We left books off our list. The only books we'll mention here are the always affordable, always accessible digital and print textbooks published right here at the Center of Math ($9.95/29.95, centerofmath.org/store). Oh, and this one: Math for the Frightened: Facing Scary Symbols and Everything Else That Freaks You Out About Mathematics.

Did we miss something? Think the mathematician you know would hate this list? Help us get it right in the comments!

Happy Holidays from your very merry math friends at the Center of Math!

A Textbook Carol | The Evolution of the Textbook Publishing Industry

Hello math lovers! We know all of you love math... and you probably love the holidays, too, so we thought we would combine the two to give you a fun and informative infographic about the evolution of the publishing industry! We drew inspiration from the classic "A Christmas Carol" that we thought you'd all be able to relate to. We hope you enjoy it!

 

Though it's a topic you might not have ever thought about, publishing has an impact on you whether you are a student, professor, collector, or just a math enthusiast. We appreciate those of you who choose the Center of Math and support our mission of finding ways to make math affordable and accessible!

From the Center of Math, Happy Holidays!!!

P.S. If you'd like a print-friendly version of this infographic (at full size), send us an email at info@centerofmath.org.