The Science Behind Pixar

See all Pixar's characters at www.pixar.com

Many people simply aren't sure what applied mathematics can accomplish, or, which accomplishments required applying challenging and exciting mathematics. One wonderful example of creators using mathematics to perfect their craft is Pixar Animation Studios. They're the folks responsible for fan-favorites Toy Story (1995), Finding Nemo (2003), Up (2009) and, most recently, the wildly popular Inside Out (2015).

That's why we recommend you check out the newest exhibit at Boston's Museum of Science: The Science Behind Pixar.

Enjoy a unique, first-time look into the Pixar process, and explore the science and technology behind some of the most beloved animated films and their characters with the world premiere of The Science Behind Pixar. This interactive exhibition showcases the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts used by the artists and computer scientists who help bring Pixar's award-winning films to the big screen.

You'll definitely have the opportunity to explore and use mathematics to create virtual 3D models.
If you're serious about 3D modeling and mathematics, check out Matrices, Vectors and 3D Math with Matlab® or an Introduction to Groups, Rings and Fields here.

read more and purchase tickets here
read more about the Museum of Science here

What's your favorite Pixar movie? Which movie do you think was hardest for animators to create? Let us know in the comments!

Problem of the Week

This week's problem's solution is actually easier to state than the problem itself. That isn't to say that it's easier to arrive at, though! There is not a whole lot of theory involved at reaching the solution, only a few clever insights. Of course one could use combinatoric to explore every conceivable combination of the 4 numbers to arrive at a solution, but even in this instance, it would be just trial and error.

Drum roll, please...The solution is:

6/(1-(5/7))

We hope that you enjoyed this problem! We have problems like this up every Monday; just check out the Center of Math Twitter.

Math Minds: David Craft

Dr. David Craft is a modern-day renaissance man. He graduated from Brown University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, then went on to a mathematical Ph.D. in Operations Research from MIT, and currently works with Harvard Medical School in oncology research. Among his many interests are Gallery 263, foraging, and creating music. He is also working on a new book- it will be titled Something About Infinity- and it presents interesting mathematical topics in an enjoyable, easy read.

He sat down with Tori and Zach this past week to discuss the math side of his life, and to get his perspective on the challenges of math modeling in medicine.

Problem of the Week

Throwback Fact: Sally Ride in Space

Sally Ride in space.
image: commons.wikimedia.org

On this day in 1983, Sally Ride became the first American woman in space (Valentina Terishkova was the first woman in space, as part of the Soviet program in 1963). In her biography on NASA's site, Dr. Ride's listed experience includes earning a Physics Ph.D. from Stanford University, developing the space shuttle's Canadarm arm, two space missions, and serving on the committee investigating the Challenger disaster.

Ride was not a mathematician, but an astrophysicist. However, I'd like to take the time to chat briefly about mathematics as it relates to space.

Counting Systems: Maya

The great pyramid at the Mayan city Chichen Itza
(it was featured in one of our favorite blog posts)

The Region: The Mayan civilization can be split up into several distinct periods: the preclassic, classic, and postclassic. During the final period, explorers from Western Europe made their first contact with the Mayan people (around 1500 CE). 

Over the 3500 years that the Mayan culture was prominent, the lands under their control remained expanded and shrank several times. They were limited to the Yucatan Penninsula (present day, a part of Mexico) but had strong ties to the Olmec and Toltec cities in surrounding Mesoamerican lands.

The Numerals: In many ways, the Mayan numeral system is more intuitive than our own. They used a Base-20, or vigesimal, system.