tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12604025866146257212024-03-14T06:58:36.059+00:00Maths at:Winning at Maths. Losing at Life.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02613116264986925216noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260402586614625721.post-3435003612784494492023-06-01T06:00:00.002+01:002023-06-05T10:44:01.513+01:00Maths at: The FUTURE!<div><p>Back to the future. There's no maths in it. We just wanted to watch a good film. I suppose we should talk about it too.<br /></p></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhVDJf-HHvocozH5CXnDqFrB0E_1P0sOEPAO59vyJPgZi0lGZOOHUckHEyUpHVVItGS5TwywiEKG52hV60vXg4_P_YhNUOd_YyY3rUtUfLep0-GcbmvpqNh-cn4CLkhSvhj4omIZWJqrQm3AOt96h7YABBLj0fvefwLnj6f9etsoEGwkG_THJokQEAQ/s820/299664947_5782540565091066_7014329934677766432_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="820" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhVDJf-HHvocozH5CXnDqFrB0E_1P0sOEPAO59vyJPgZi0lGZOOHUckHEyUpHVVItGS5TwywiEKG52hV60vXg4_P_YhNUOd_YyY3rUtUfLep0-GcbmvpqNh-cn4CLkhSvhj4omIZWJqrQm3AOt96h7YABBLj0fvefwLnj6f9etsoEGwkG_THJokQEAQ/w400-h175/299664947_5782540565091066_7014329934677766432_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>In today's programme:</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>we travel through time at a rate of 1 second/second.<br /></li><li>is Harry Potter better than Back to the Future?</li><li>how do the laws of physics change when we're moving?</li><li>all our knowledge is guided by the wonderful <a href="https://twitter.com/naewray">Naomi Wray</a>.</li></ul><p style="text-align: center;"></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="30" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="https://archive.org/embed/maths-at-the-future" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="500"></iframe></div>
<p>Further reading: </p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>book your tickets to the <a href="https://www.backtothefuturemusical.com/">Back to the Future The Musical</a>;<br /></li><li>is time travel complicated? Take a look at this infographic and learn about <a href="https://www.techeblog.com/3-theories-of-time-travel-explained-in-one-image/">3 Theories of Time Travel</a>;</li><li>have a glimpse at Hannah's programme <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elah3i_WiFI">partying with Steven Hawking</a>;</li><li>watch <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlmMxmWHEfg">Kip Thorne present on black holes at Cardiff University</a>.<br /></li></ul>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Subscribe via </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/maths-at/id1282043127" style="text-align: center;">iTunes</a><span style="text-align: center;">.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Follow us on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/PodcastMathsAt">@PodcastMathsAt</a></span><span style="text-align: justify;">, as well as <a href="https://twitter.com/ThomasEWoolley">@ThomasEWoolley</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/benmparker">@benmparker</a>. Hannah has one of those <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hannah.veale.photo/">new-fangled instagram</a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/hannah.veale.photo/">s</a>.</span><br />Thomas Woolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07895826981003298350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260402586614625721.post-10436926648630969652023-04-09T09:00:00.003+01:002023-04-09T09:00:00.144+01:00Maths at: Easter<p>When is Easter? I literally have no clue. Today's Maths at: justifies this ignorance!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrqLLiwZ6pvjNwucYI9gJSTGe7I2qyQbg3-819t_T1QukGcSyxQV2rGD6bXyRGAjXPx6cGEtpfapVP3U5pMTwavROy6SpnZVvDvHxaNMbSL65qlCUtq70GV6OMVYrFSDL_H1myUMPT-UxDh5WKdr5g0bX2cv3xepusICF9PumGbiuraKIzKUJ3EwXkA/s700/easter-egg-counting-cards-1-12-printable-4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrqLLiwZ6pvjNwucYI9gJSTGe7I2qyQbg3-819t_T1QukGcSyxQV2rGD6bXyRGAjXPx6cGEtpfapVP3U5pMTwavROy6SpnZVvDvHxaNMbSL65qlCUtq70GV6OMVYrFSDL_H1myUMPT-UxDh5WKdr5g0bX2cv3xepusICF9PumGbiuraKIzKUJ3EwXkA/s320/easter-egg-counting-cards-1-12-printable-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>In today's programme:</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>we fail to do basic arithmetic;</li><li>should you use Salad Cream at Easter? </li><li>Thomas loses his mind.<br /></li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F6RaZXdPkwo" width="320" youtube-src-id="F6RaZXdPkwo"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="30" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="https://archive.org/embed/maths-at-easter" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="500"></iframe></div>
<p>Further reading: </p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>So... <a href="https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/when-easter">when is Easter?</a></li><li>Check your <a href="https://neal.fun/absurd-trolley-problems/">ethical compass</a>.<br /></li></ul>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Subscribe via </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/maths-at/id1282043127" style="text-align: center;">iTunes</a><span style="text-align: center;">.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Follow us on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/PodcastMathsAt">@PodcastMathsAt</a></span><span style="text-align: justify;">, as well as <a href="https://twitter.com/ThomasEWoolley">@ThomasEWoolley</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/benmparker">@benmparker</a>. Hannah has one of those <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hannah.veale.photo/">new-fangled instagram</a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/hannah.veale.photo/">s</a>.</span>Thomas Woolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07895826981003298350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260402586614625721.post-58678788928609814722022-05-04T16:33:00.001+01:002022-05-04T16:38:59.958+01:00Maths at: Wordle<p>It's like the last day of school, because we are playing games!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle/index.html">Wordle</a>,</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.crazygames.com/game/guess-who-multiplayer">Guess who</a>,</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.coolmathgames.com/0-hangman">Hangman</a>.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Never has maths been so much fun.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_EcDYMJ1igc" width="320" youtube-src-id="_EcDYMJ1igc"></iframe></div><p style="text-align: center;"></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="30" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="https://archive.org/embed/maths-at-wordle" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="500"></iframe></div>
<p>Further reading: </p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10778927/1/Guess-Who-Would-Have-Guessed-Who">Guess</a> <a href="https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13698131/1/Guess-Who">who</a> <a href="https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10778927/1/Guess-Who-Would-Have-Guessed-Who">fanfic</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://chalkdustmagazine.com/blog/cracking-guess-board-game/">What is the best Guess Who strategy?</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRed0Xmc2Wg">Three blue One Brown’s strategy for Wordle.</a></li><li><a href="https://blog.wolfram.com/2012/01/11/the-longest-word-ladder-puzzle-ever/">Can you solve the longest word ladder? </a><br /></li></ul>
<br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Subscribe via </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/maths-at/id1282043127" style="text-align: center;">iTunes</a><span style="text-align: center;">.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Follow us on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/PodcastMathsAt">@PodcastMathsAt</a></span><span style="text-align: justify;">, as well as <a href="https://twitter.com/ThomasEWoolley">@ThomasEWoolley</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/benmparker">@benmparker</a>. Hannah has one of those <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hannah.veale.photo/">new-fangled instagram</a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/hannah.veale.photo/">s</a>.</span>Thomas Woolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07895826981003298350noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260402586614625721.post-18642123028589228922021-05-23T23:23:00.009+01:002021-05-25T11:20:28.753+01:00Maths at: The Number 23<p><span class="st">Did you know that:</span></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>the Earth tilts at 23 degrees on its axis? (Well it's actually closer to 23.5 and degrees are an arbitrary unit of measurement);<br /></li><li>2 divided by 3 is 0.666 recurring? (Although if you round it properly it would be 0.667, which is the Devil's next door neighbour); <br /></li><li><span class="st">if you rearrange the letters in "The Number Twenty Three" you get "This is all Hogwash"?</span></li></ul><p><span class="st">Isn't numerology incredible?</span></p><p><span class="st">This week we watched Joel Schumacher's 23rd film: "<a href="<a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B076CYQW28/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B076CYQW28&linkCode=as2&tag=mathsat-21&linkId=1b58f538673adc176ef4a55c6821cdb7"><img border="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=GB&ASIN=B076CYQW28&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=mathsat-21" ></a>">The Number 23</a>", starring Jim Carrey. And we ask, perhaps, the most important question of all - was this film actually a secret sequel to Ace Ventura Pet Detective?</span></p><p><span class="st">We're through the looking glass here people!</span></p><p><span class="st"> If you're interested in watching <a href="<a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B076CYQW28/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B076CYQW28&linkCode=as2&tag=mathsat-21&linkId=1b58f538673adc176ef4a55c6821cdb7"><img border="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=GB&ASIN=B076CYQW28&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=mathsat-21" ></a>">The Number 23</a> then please recondsider watching <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00UUM9M2U/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=mathsat-21&creative=6738&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00UUM9M2U&linkId=b5a86302899b0c6dfe460bd12341bf4f">Paddington</a> (<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00UUM9M2U/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=mathsat-21&creative=6738&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00UUM9M2U&linkId=b5a86302899b0c6dfe460bd12341bf4f">one</a> or <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0771Y4663/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=mathsat-21&creative=6738&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B0771Y4663&linkId=0b1338ea1319705bd20ffc3e9999caff">two</a>, they're both good.) <br /></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B076CYQW28/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=mathsat-21&creative=6738&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B076CYQW28&linkId=da2c303f87bbde6e31fc3809fe5d3617" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="220" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9fag6IXF0yY/YKYmemkepMI/AAAAAAAAJoY/Gq11WtARimk6u5C3X_ZzI3g5VsARvKUmACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Number23.jpg" /></a></div><br />Your regulars, Thomas and Ben are joined by <a href="https://www.hannahvealephotography.com/">Hannah Veale</a> and you can either tickle your eyeballs and/or your ear drums. We're so good to you.<br /><p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WhxBrL0qkYY" width="320" youtube-src-id="WhxBrL0qkYY"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> </div><p style="text-align: center;">
<br /></p><p>Further reading: </p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-spot-a-conspiracy-theory-when-you-see-one-133574">How do you spot a conspiracy theory?</a></li><li>James Grime demonstrating <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIsDjbhbADY">Benford's law</a> in an everyday paper.</li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4QtxB9cLAg">???</a><br /></li></ul><p>
<br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Subscribe via </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/maths-at/id1282043127" style="text-align: center;">iTunes</a><span style="text-align: center;">.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Follow us on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/PodcastMathsAt">@PodcastMathsAt</a></span><span style="text-align: justify;">, as well as <a href="https://twitter.com/ThomasEWoolley">@ThomasEWoolley</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/benmparker">@benmparker</a>. Hannah has one of those <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hannah.veale.photo/">new-fangled instagram</a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/hannah.veale.photo/">s</a>.</span><br />
<br /><br /></p>Thomas Woolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07895826981003298350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260402586614625721.post-42000168640518604132021-04-09T22:06:00.003+01:002021-04-09T22:06:55.051+01:00Maths at: Bitcoin<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">It is with a heavy heart that we have to inform all of our viewers and listeners that The Wonderful Liz, otherwise known as Lydia Menzies passed away in late 2020.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lydia, by her own choice, wanted to be enigmatic. So although you gained glimpses into her past career as a school teacher you rarely got insight into the funny, passionate and ebullient life that she lived. Which is a great shame, because her impact on the lives around her was tremendous. So much so that she even received tributes in the house of commons from <a href="https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2020-12-10b.1012.3">Angus MacNeil</a> and <a href="https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2020-12-10b.1012.4">Jacob Rees-Mogg</a>.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div><p></p><p>A <a href="https://justgiving.com/fundraising/lydiamenzies">fundraising page</a> for <a href="https://breastcancernow.org/">Breast Cancer Now</a> was set up in her honour and we hope that you are able to donate whatever you can to this cause.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-86_vt6MWCsk/YHC456SutpI/AAAAAAAAJnI/t8oPiURDrhkpibL6xCCXKLc6kL8og4VtQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1500/Bitcoin_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-86_vt6MWCsk/YHC456SutpI/AAAAAAAAJnI/t8oPiURDrhkpibL6xCCXKLc6kL8og4VtQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h266/Bitcoin_.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>This podcast covers the maths of bitcoin and guest stars one of Lydia's oldest friends, <a href="https://iohk.io/en/team/duncan-coutts">Duncan Coutts</a>, who is currently developing one of the bitcoin alternatives.<br /><p style="text-align: center;">Did we learn what bitcoin is?</p><p style="text-align: center;">Or did we just start to question all money?</p><p style="text-align: left;">Join us in Lydia's final podcast. We hope you enjoy it<span style="font-size: small;">.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nsukanvNlHs" width="320" youtube-src-id="nsukanvNlHs"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="30" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="https://archive.org/embed/maths-at-bitcoin" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="500"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<p>Further reading: </p><ul><li>What on earth is <a href="https://www.haskell.org/">Haskell</a>?<br /></li><li>If you can't donate money to a cancer charity then perhaps you could donate your time through <a href="https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/">fundraising</a>?<br /></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"></ul>
<span style="text-align: justify;">Subscribe via </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/maths-at/id1282043127" style="text-align: center;">iTunes</a><span style="text-align: center;">.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Follow us on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/PodcastMathsAt">@PodcastMathsAt</a></span><span style="text-align: justify;">, as well as <a href="https://twitter.com/ThomasEWoolley">@ThomasEWoolley</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/benmparker">@benmparker</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> </i></span> <br /></div></div>Thomas Woolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07895826981003298350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260402586614625721.post-86984859058971088372020-10-13T09:00:00.001+01:002020-10-13T09:00:08.984+01:00Maths at: Long-tailed tits & Lovelace<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> TITS!<i> Tits. </i><b>TiTs... </b><u>TIIIIIIITS</u>,</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(tits)</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">t...i...t...s</span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yup, we we've found our level.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">This week we're joined by the wonderful (soon to be doctor) <a href="https://maths.dept.shef.ac.uk/maths/staff_info_760.html">Natasha Ellison</a> (good luck, Natasha!), from the Unviersity of Sheffield and she takes us on a whirlwind tour of her thesis results of where you should look for tits in a forest and how the mathematics stems from understanding wolf pack dynamics.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RrGGN3x4x5w/X3tovKGAMOI/AAAAAAAAJdo/uyC8eZ_Mw-UvSl17CNAoxyqhpUXuBt0awCLcBGAsYHQ/s671/146043_P001_BlueTit.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="671" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RrGGN3x4x5w/X3tovKGAMOI/AAAAAAAAJdo/uyC8eZ_Mw-UvSl17CNAoxyqhpUXuBt0awCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/146043_P001_BlueTit.png" width="320" /></a></div>Alongside our ecological leanings we also discuss Augusta Ada King, or Ada Lovelace to her friends. Tuesday 13th October marks Ada Lovelace day. As one of the first ever computer programmers to exist why not crack open your favourite programming language and have a go at saying:</div><div style="text-align: center;">HELLO WORLD!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X66UuDOQCO8" width="320" youtube-src-id="X66UuDOQCO8"></iframe></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="30" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="https://archive.org/embed/maths-at-long-tailed-tits-lovelace" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="500"></iframe><br /></div>
<p>Further reading: </p><ul><li>Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/natasha1777?lang=en">Natasha</a> on twitter; <br /></li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://findingada.com/">Ada Lovelace day</a>;</li><li>How to say Hello World in <a href="https://excelwithbusiness.com/blog/say-hello-world-in-28-different-programming-languages/">28 different programming languages</a>.<br /></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"></ul>
<span style="text-align: justify;">Subscribe via </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/maths-at/id1282043127" style="text-align: center;">iTunes</a><span style="text-align: center;">.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Follow us on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/PodcastMathsAt">@PodcastMathsAt</a></span><span style="text-align: justify;">, as well as <a href="https://twitter.com/ThomasEWoolley">@ThomasEWoolley</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/benmparker">@benmparker</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> </i></span> <br /></div>Thomas Woolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07895826981003298350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260402586614625721.post-35927654845177774232020-09-15T09:33:00.001+01:002020-10-05T20:36:57.239+01:00Maths at: Tidying & toilets<p><span class="st">It is a truth universally acknowledged, that noone likes tidying up. So, if you want a reason to not bother then give us a listen.<br /></span></p><p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jHijih0Jdf0/X19Ju9DPUBI/AAAAAAAAJc4/u_jovy6-WFYrydfAWpysGGY-Rj1Xx1NSgCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/Metro-Modern-Close-Coupled-Toilet-with-Soft-Close-Seat-l.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jHijih0Jdf0/X19Ju9DPUBI/AAAAAAAAJc4/u_jovy6-WFYrydfAWpysGGY-Rj1Xx1NSgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Metro-Modern-Close-Coupled-Toilet-with-Soft-Close-Seat-l.jpg" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bkZqei1eezg/Xza06fcJmEI/AAAAAAAAJb4/gfnA1VUCE10f7xIBzZE2WurblPbq1qXtACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/Trophy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>Once again your regulars, Ben, Liz and Thomas, seek answers to such questions as:<ul style="text-align: left;"></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Why are people in London Freezing?</li><li>Do butterflies fart? </li><li>How many toilets do you need to make everyone happy?<br /></li></ul><p> All questions and no answers in today's Maths at:</p><p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EzikqDBUaJ8" width="320" youtube-src-id="EzikqDBUaJ8"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> </div><p style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="30" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="https://archive.org/embed/maths-at-tidying-and-toilets" text-align="center" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="500"></iframe> </p><p>Further reading: </p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>House always messy? <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2020-05-23/why-house-messy-thermodynamics-maths/12248914">Just blame it on the second law of thermodynamics</a></li><li><a href="http://peopleqm.blogspot.com/2017/07/no-more-queueing-at-ladies-room.html">No more queuing at the ladies' room</a></li><li><a href="https://lmgtfy.com/?q=Do+butterflies+fart">Do butterflies fart? </a><br /></li></ul><p>
<br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Subscribe via </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/maths-at/id1282043127" style="text-align: center;">iTunes</a><span style="text-align: center;">.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Follow us on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/PodcastMathsAt">@PodcastMathsAt</a></span><span style="text-align: justify;">, as well as <a href="https://twitter.com/ThomasEWoolley">@ThomasEWoolley</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/benmparker">@benmparker</a>.</span><br />
<br /><br /></p>Thomas Woolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07895826981003298350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260402586614625721.post-10779724634910981982020-08-14T19:54:00.001+01:002020-09-14T10:06:09.990+01:00Maths at: Fantasy Football (Part 2)<p>The first episode got us all up to speed as to what on earth Fantasy Football was all about. The Maths at: team is now ready to plunder the depths of Josh's strategies and Thomas has been editing in haste. </p><p>We can 100% guarantee that if you follow the strategy as specifed by Josh you will be in with a chance of winning and that's no Bull.<br /></p><p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bkZqei1eezg/Xza06fcJmEI/AAAAAAAAJb4/gfnA1VUCE10f7xIBzZE2WurblPbq1qXtACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/Trophy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="528" data-original-width="960" height="282" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bkZqei1eezg/Xza06fcJmEI/AAAAAAAAJb4/gfnA1VUCE10f7xIBzZE2WurblPbq1qXtACLcBGAsYHQ/w512-h282/Trophy.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
<p></p><p>Once again your regulars, Ben and Thomas, are joined by the knowledgable Hannah Veale and the intriguing Josh Bull. Gather round as they seek answers to such questions as:</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>is it luck, or is it skill? <br /></li><li>is it better to have consistent scorers, or one off star strikers?<br /></li><li>why is everyone regressing to the mean?</li></ul><p>Of course, the simple answer is that you get reddit to do the hard work for you! See how in today's podcast.</p><p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/348merShYQs" width="320" youtube-src-id="348merShYQs"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> </div><div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="30" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="https://archive.org/embed/maths-at-fantasy-football-part-2" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="500"></iframe>
</div><p></p><p>
<br />
Further reading:<br />
</p><ul>
<li>Josh Bull's <a href="https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/184028/event/47">Fantasy Football page</a>, which contains all the history of his choices.</li><li>Why not have a go at your own Fantasy team through <a href="https://fantasy.premierleague.com/">The official Fantasy Premier League</a>?<br /></li>
<li>For actual tips on Fantasy Football, Josh recommends <a href="https://t.co/81K2prIjtw?amp=1">Reddit</a>.</li><li>Alongside being brilliant at everything Hannah Veale is also a photographer. <a href="https://www.hannahvealephotography.com/">Why not check her out</a>?</li><li>Interested in the statistics that Ben showed? <a href="http://ftp.iza.org/dp13578.pdf">This paper</a> quantifies the effect of having a crowd on your win ratio.<br /></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Subscribe via </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/maths-at/id1282043127" style="text-align: justify;">iTunes</a><span style="text-align: justify;">.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Follow us on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/PodcastMathsAt">@PodcastMathsAt</a></span><span style="text-align: justify;">, as well as <a href="https://twitter.com/ThomasEWoolley">@ThomasEWoolley</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/benmparker">@benmparker</a>.</span><br />
<br />Thomas Woolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07895826981003298350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260402586614625721.post-67941544923672141392020-08-13T11:58:00.006+01:002020-08-14T17:44:38.353+01:00Maths at: Fantasy Football (Part 1)<div style="text-align: center;">WELCOME TO A NEW DIMENSION OF MATHS AT:<br />
</div><p>We recorded our first ever video, so that we may delight your eyes, as well as your ear canals. However, for those of you still living in the 20th century we've stripped the video off. Of course, you'll miss the visual tom foolery, but we're sure that your imagination can fill in the blanks.</p><p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PHDaz2h0Dno/XzUUV525AQI/AAAAAAAAJbc/GjdCl03RTDUrI1btMcylbVGf3llBkGqTwCLcBGAsYHQ/s499/Fantasy_football.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="499" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PHDaz2h0Dno/XzUUV525AQI/AAAAAAAAJbc/GjdCl03RTDUrI1btMcylbVGf3llBkGqTwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Fantasy_football.jpg" /></a></div>
<p></p><p>Fantasy football is the name of the game today and your regulars Ben and Thomas are joined by the knowledgable Hannah Veale and the intriguing Josh Bull. Josh recently topped the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-53740931">Fantasy Premier League</a> and we though we'd take the time to interview him about his secrets.</p><p style="text-align: center;"> At least, that was the plan.</p><p>Unfortunately, the idea of "fantasy" led Thomas astray. So if you're interested in knowing the answers to such questions as:</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Why isn’t Gandalf available in fantasy
football?</li><li>Would Gandalf would be a good striker?</li><li>Would Gandalf be a good
head of a university?</li></ul><p>Then we're the podcast for you!</p><p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8OXBMhFxd0A" width="320" youtube-src-id="8OXBMhFxd0A"></iframe> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="30" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="https://archive.org/embed/maths-at-fantasy-football-part-1" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="500"></iframe> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div><p></p><p>
<br />
Further reading:<br />
</p><ul>
<li>Josh Bull's <a href="https://twitter.com/joshuaabull?lang=en">twitter account</a> contains all the latest Fantasy Football tips and tricks (may actually just be mathematical musings).</li><li>Why not have a go at your own Fantasy team through <a href="https://fantasy.premierleague.com/">The official Fantasy Premier League</a>?<br /></li>
<li>For actual tips on Fantasy Football, Josh recommends <a href="https://t.co/81K2prIjtw?amp=1">Reddit</a>.<br /></li>
<li>Alongside being brilliant at everything Hannah Veale is also a photographer. <a href="https://www.hannahvealephotography.com/">Why not check her out</a>?<br /></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Subscribe via </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/maths-at/id1282043127" style="text-align: justify;">iTunes</a><span style="text-align: justify;">.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Follow us on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/PodcastMathsAt">@PodcastMathsAt</a></span><span style="text-align: justify;">, as well as <a href="https://twitter.com/ThomasEWoolley">@ThomasEWoolley</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/benmparker">@benmparker</a>.</span><br />
<br />Ben Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09168191027658272711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260402586614625721.post-91129448121601821182019-12-10T19:37:00.003+00:002019-12-13T11:08:01.360+00:00Maths at: The Election<div style="text-align: center;">
WE'RE BACK FOR A ONE OFF SPECIAL!<br />
</div>
What could be special enough to bring us back? Well nothing more than a bloomin' election! That's right we're going to look at how maths infuses even our democratic duties.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Epf91qaKc0k/Xe_1wqMHtdI/AAAAAAAAJWs/QTeRtdZ0CvEZ7Gg6HuTH2TAOpGmFZAXPgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/d6dae2f057d9f336aa9d4c8639d2-1444335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="747" data-original-width="1200" height="248" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Epf91qaKc0k/Xe_1wqMHtdI/AAAAAAAAJWs/QTeRtdZ0CvEZ7Gg6HuTH2TAOpGmFZAXPgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/d6dae2f057d9f336aa9d4c8639d2-1444335.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Today's discussion points:<br />
<ul>
<li>How are Thomas and Liz now that they're parents?</li>
<li>How do we deal with having no perfect voting systems? </li>
<li>Rude diagrams and asymptotes.</li>
</ul>
All this and more in this week's Maths at.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="30" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="https://archive.org/embed/mathsattheelection" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="500"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
In you're interested in more political theory then the UK will be going to the polls on November 12th! Enough stats to make you go blind. <br />
<br />
Further reading:<br />
<ul>
<li>This <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz0n_SjOttTcmP-7y4beuYv49L3qiRtwn">YouTube Playlist</a> provides a really wonderful overview of why all voting systems are bad.</li>
<li>Take a look at what your vote is really worth at <a href="http://voterpower.org/">voterpower.org.</a></li>
<li>How does <a href="https://tactical.vote/faq">tactical voting</a> work?</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Subscribe via </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/maths-at/id1282043127" style="text-align: justify;">iTunes</a><span style="text-align: justify;">.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Follow us on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/PodcastMathsAt">@PodcastMathsAt</a></span><span style="text-align: justify;">, as well as <a href="https://twitter.com/ThomasEWoolley">@ThomasEWoolley</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/benmparker">@benmparker</a>.</span><br />
<br />Thomas Woolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07895826981003298350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260402586614625721.post-63728434293558435232019-05-22T15:15:00.000+01:002019-05-22T15:15:10.567+01:00Maths at: Season 2 Bloopers<div style="text-align: center;">
We can't be perfect all the time.</div>
<br />
From everyone at maths at have a good year and we hope to be back at some point in the future.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="30" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="https://archive.org/embed/Season2Outakes" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="500"></iframe></div>
Thomas Woolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07895826981003298350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260402586614625721.post-35937998221314945812019-05-21T13:46:00.000+01:002019-05-21T13:46:03.510+01:00Maths at: Magictown<div style="text-align: center;">
WE DID IT! Another series done!</div>
<br />
Marriages, prenancies, black holes, none of these stopped us getting the best quality maths film chat from our mouths to your ears. The question is: after all that will there be a third series?<br />
<br />
Today's discussion points:<br />
<ul>
<li>Are opinion polls pointless?</li>
<li>Which way does the inequality point? </li>
<li>What instrument can you play?</li>
</ul>
All this and more in this weeks Maths at.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="30" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="https://archive.org/embed/MagicTown" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="500"></iframe> </div>
In you're interested in watching Travelling
Salesman you don't need to buy it off Amazon, you can just watch it on
YouTube! Look a James Stewart's pretty face below.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/liMwhCnJf8U/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/liMwhCnJf8U?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
Further reading:<br />
<ul>
<li>Have a look at the New York Times' <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1947/10/08/archives/magic-town-film-site-where-james-stewart-polls-public-opinion-and.html">scathing review</a> of this charming film.</li>
<li>A Journalist’s <a href="http://www.britishpollingcouncil.org/a-journalists-guide-to-opinion-polls/">Guide To Opinion Polls</a> from the British polling council.</li>
<li>Four times when having an o<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35860830">nline poll was a bad idea</a>.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Subscribe via </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/maths-at/id1282043127" style="text-align: justify;">iTunes</a><span style="text-align: justify;">.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Follow us on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/PodcastMathsAt">@PodcastMathsAt</a></span><span style="text-align: justify;">, as well as <a href="https://twitter.com/ThomasEWoolley">@ThomasEWoolley</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/benmparker">@benmparker</a>.</span><br />
<br />Thomas Woolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07895826981003298350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260402586614625721.post-50687647571398090382019-05-06T09:00:00.000+01:002019-08-16T12:38:07.221+01:00Maths at: Travelling SalesmanThe government didn't want you to hear this podcast. They tried to pay us off! Just remember as you listen to it: we are not responsible for any repercussions if you decide to watch Travelling Salesman.<br />
<br />
Today's discussion points:<br />
<ul>
<li>How many tickets do you have to buy to win the lottery?</li>
<li>Squashed research!</li>
<li>How many actors can you have playing the same character?</li>
</ul>
All this and more in this weeks Maths at<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="30" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="https://archive.org/embed/TravellingSalesmanAll" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="500"></iframe>
</div>
<br />
In you're interested in watching Travelling Salesman you don't need to buy it off Amazon, you can just watch it on YouTube! They can't even give it away!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JBbSI1EOwWE/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JBbSI1EOwWE?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
Further reading:<br />
<ul>
<li>Should you feel guilty about watching the film on YouTube, you can give the creators your money, through their <a href="http://www.travellingsalesmanmovie.com/">official website</a>.</li>
<li>An <a href="https://gizmodo.com/if-you-solve-this-math-problem-you-could-steal-all-the-1836047131">easy description of the P vs NP problem.</a></li>
<li>Sorting algorithms through <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/AlgoRythmics">dance</a>.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14oa9QBT5Js">Color visualization</a> of sorting algorithms.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Subscribe via </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/maths-at/id1282043127" style="text-align: justify;">iTunes</a><span style="text-align: justify;">.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Follow us on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/PodcastMathsAt">@PodcastMathsAt</a></span><span style="text-align: justify;">, as well as <a href="https://twitter.com/ThomasEWoolley">@ThomasEWoolley</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/benmparker">@benmparker</a>.</span><br />
<br />Thomas Woolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07895826981003298350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260402586614625721.post-10496991448348230222019-04-23T10:58:00.000+01:002019-04-23T10:58:06.661+01:00Maths at: Contact<h2>
Maths at... proudly* sponsored by <a href="https://www.hertford.ox.ac.uk/staff/professor-elizabeth-baldwin">Prof. Elizabeth Baldwin</a>! </h2>
*we have no idea of how proud she is.<br />
<h2>
Care to sponsor an episode? It'll cost you 77p!</h2>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Sorry about the quality of Thomas' microphone, he had trouble recording. Won't happen again (until the next).</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This week we watched <a href="https://amzn.to/2KbbvVz">Contact</a> and are joined, once again, by <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://twitter.com/wd_taylor">Dr William Taylor</a> </span></span></span></span></div>
<br />
His enthusiasm is so infectious! So whilst he tried to educate us, we try to divert his attention with such discussion points as:<br />
<ul>
<li>Spice girls! A very strong start?</li>
<li>We didn't do the "you can't be Sirius Joke!" (Although I did, but no-one laughed so I cut it. But feel free to add it back in... you'll know when).</li>
<li>Jane Fonda, or Jodie Foster?</li>
</ul>
<br />
Thomas is tired, Liz is Pregnant and Ben can't find his mass, can you find it?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="30" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="https://archive.org/embed/ContactAll" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="500"></iframe>
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">If you're interested in watching <a href="https://amzn.to/2KbbvVz">Contact</a> you can follow the Amazon link below. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://amzn.to/2KbbvVz"><img alt="https://amzn.to/2KbbvVz" border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="195" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YGCxSO_7Gls/XKiAGPfLZbI/AAAAAAAAJR4/ENcZBFNNh-4S9Ohfs7CMd1QUVYBy9JV4QCLcBGAs/s320/513hGjk1BEL._SL250_.jpg" width="249" /></a></div>
<br />
Further reading links:<br />
<ul>
<li>Can you tell what the <a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Arecibo_message.svg">Arecibo Message</a> is?</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHIwDHsrGOc">Hubble Image of Galaxy Cluster Converted Into Sound</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Subscribe via </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/maths-at/id1282043127" style="text-align: justify;">iTunes</a><span style="text-align: justify;">.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Follow us on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/PodcastMathsAt">@PodcastMathsAt</a></span><span style="text-align: justify;">, as well as <a href="https://twitter.com/ThomasEWoolley">@ThomasEWoolley</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/benmparker">@benmparker</a>.</span>Thomas Woolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07895826981003298350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260402586614625721.post-63368122478095974602019-04-09T11:00:00.000+01:002019-04-09T11:58:02.633+01:00Maths at the Movies: The MartianAnother sexy, sexy episode this week as we are joined by the <a href="https://tomrocksmaths.com/about/">NAKED MATHEMATICIAN</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://twitter.com/tomrocksmaths?lang=en">Dr</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRfo-DAifrP3lzcxUHtGm_A">Thomas</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tomrocksmaths/">Crawford</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Get ready to feel dull by comparison!</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Today's discussion points include:</span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Everyone's links to Countdown;</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thomas tells us about the Greeks;</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Can you tell the difference between Jeff Daniels and Jeff Bridges?</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">So put your feet up, get comfortable and get naked, as we talk about this week's movie <a href="https://amzn.to/2S4rHa0">The Martian</a>.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="30" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="https://archive.org/embed/TheMartianAll" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="500"></iframe>
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">If you're into watching <a href="https://amzn.to/2S4rHa0">The Martian</a>, you can follow the link below.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://amzn.to/2SDpqHX"><img alt="https://amzn.to/2SDpqHX" border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="188" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_ic2nCM_020/XGlldOq1cwI/AAAAAAAAJPw/PxDofYz6T78-kNmJ5f7dlPl0g1UW77XeQCLcBGAs/s1600/51rmwZQM9GL._SL250_.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Further reading links:</span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">There is actually a website that maintains a fact file on every episode of Countdown. Why not have a look at how <a href="http://wiki.apterous.org/Ben_Parker">Ben</a> <a href="http://wiki.apterous.org/Episode_6650">did</a>?</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Recently the rover Opportunity made the news as it lasted </span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">5,352 sols after being planned for only 90 sols, but <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsMb2RBxq4o">what did it discover</a>?</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EsMb2RBxq4o/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EsMb2RBxq4o?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fancy having a go at surviving through The Martian's <a href="https://maththrills.com/movie-math-the-martian/">maths problems</a>?</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Subscribe via </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/maths-at/id1282043127" style="text-align: justify;">iTunes</a><span style="text-align: justify;">.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Follow us on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/PodcastMathsAt">@PodcastMathsAt</a></span><span style="text-align: justify;">, as well as <a href="https://twitter.com/ThomasEWoolley">@ThomasEWoolley</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/benmparker">@benmparker</a>.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span>Thomas Woolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07895826981003298350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260402586614625721.post-72703369986129163782019-03-21T11:39:00.000+00:002019-03-21T11:39:09.114+00:00Puzzle from CUBESimple question this week:<br />
<br />
Consider a clock with an hour hand and a minute hand. Starting from midnight, how many times do the hands cross each other in 24 hours.<br />
<br />
Note, you don't count the starting point of midnight, with the hands overlapping as a crossing, but you do count the last moment, when the two hands overlap at midnight a day later.<br />
<br />
Bonus Question:<br />
Normally, clock hands travel clockwise around the clockface. Suppose now that the two hands are travelling in opposite directions. How many times do the hands cross in this case?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y-LlrcH4BRk/XIEC--foCFI/AAAAAAAAJQ0/c5zgA3wgUi8VkcSzq181Ih4Ac0AGIi3sQCLcBGAs/s1600/Eternal_clock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1598" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y-LlrcH4BRk/XIEC--foCFI/AAAAAAAAJQ0/c5zgA3wgUi8VkcSzq181Ih4Ac0AGIi3sQCLcBGAs/s320/Eternal_clock.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
<br />Thomas Woolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07895826981003298350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260402586614625721.post-90164097537443803952019-03-18T21:10:00.000+00:002019-03-18T21:10:08.081+00:00Math at the Movies: x+yWell, this was a pain in the backside to edit. The film is so tawdry and dull that we kept getting lost on tangents. Fear not though faithful listener, Thomas has edited the two hours of guff down to a single hour of solid... bronze.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Today's discussion points include:</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">How should you flip a mattress?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Does the culture you grow up in influence how you learn maths?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">BUMFIT!</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
From our mouths to your ears, enjoy!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="30" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="https://archive.org/embed/xy_all" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="500"></iframe>
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">If you want to watch <a href="https://amzn.to/2T3mog9">x+y</a>, you can follow the link below.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://amzn.to/2T3mog9"><img alt="https://amzn.to/2T3mog9" border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="176" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lmq3GPAUNpU/XHb7t1jN68I/AAAAAAAAJQQ/mY4-4Hy4c6wP5Xhi5v2wYRH4vigBWXrFwCLcBGAs/s1600/515f9mrHZJL._SL250_.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Further reading links:</span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">As per usual some artistic license was taken with this true story, this website provides the <span id="goog_2118513554"></span><a href="https://www.bustle.com/articles/109165-is-a-brilliant-young-mind-a-true-story-heres-how-the-new-movie-differs-from-the">fact behind the fiction;</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="goog_2118513555">Fancy testing yourself with <a href="https://www.imo-official.org/">real IMO problems</a>?</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="goog_2118513555">What is the <a href="http://devlinsangle.blogspot.com/2015/09/a-brilliant-young-mind-imo-goes-to.html">difference between IMO problems and research mathematics</a>? </span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Subscribe via </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/maths-at/id1282043127" style="text-align: justify;">iTunes</a><span style="text-align: justify;">.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Follow us on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/PodcastMathsAt">@PodcastMathsAt</a></span><span style="text-align: justify;">, as well as <a href="https://twitter.com/ThomasEWoolley">@ThomasEWoolley</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/benmparker">@benmparker</a>.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span>Thomas Woolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07895826981003298350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260402586614625721.post-32488972733902696912019-03-15T12:02:00.000+00:002019-03-15T12:02:02.940+00:00Answer to Fermat's Room puzzleA very diffiicult puzzle this week! <br />
<br />
Three people guard two doors. You know that:<br />
<ul>
<li>one person always tells the truth;</li>
<li>one person always lies;</li>
<li>one person randomly decides whether
to tell the truth or lie (assume lies and truth are equally likely);</li>
<li>the three know amongst themselves who they are.</li>
</ul>
You can ask two questions to the people. The answer to which
must either be yes or no. What question do you ask and who do you ask?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This is an extension of the famous two person puzzle. Normally, you only have two guards, one tells the truth and one lies. You have to choose and open one of the doors, but you can only ask a single question to one of the guards.<br />
<br />
What do you ask so you can pick the door to freedom?<br />
<br />
In this case the solution is:<br />
<i><b>If I asked what door would lead to freedom, what door would the other guard point to?</b></i><br />
<br />
This works by considering the two possible outcomes. Namely:<br />
<br />
<div class="post-text" itemprop="text">
<ul>
<li>If you asked the truth-guard, the truth-guard would tell you that the liar-guard would point to the door that leads to death.</li>
<li>If you asked the liar-guard, the liar-guard would tell you that the truth-guard would point to the door that leads to death. </li>
</ul>
Therefore, no matter who you ask, the guards tell you which door leads to death, and therefore you can pick the other door.</div>
<br />
This puzzle is so famous it's <a href="https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/KnightsAndKnaves">appeared many times in media</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2dgmgub8mHw/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2dgmgub8mHw?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
The inclusion of the trickster guard, however, changes the puzzle dramatically. Specifically, you questions have to work no matter who is being asked (truth-teller, liar, or trickster). Further, no matter what you ask, you always
have to worry about the trickster screwing up your logic.<br />
<br />
Thus, one strategy is to identify one person is NOT the trickster. We
don't have to identify whether they are truth-teller, or liar.<br />
<br />
Call the three gaurds A, B and C. You ask A:<br />
<div class="post-text" itemprop="text">
"Is exactly one of these statements true:<br />
<ol>
<li>You are the truth-teller</li>
<li>B is the trickster</li>
</ol>
If you get back the answer yes, then the possibilities are:<br />
<ul>
<li>A is the truth-teller and B is the liar (1. true, 2. false, so one statement true, so answer is yes which truth-teller truthfully gives)</li>
<li>A is the trickster</li>
<li>A is the liar and B is the truth-teller (both statements false so answer is no which liar lies about)</li>
</ul>
In all three cases, B is not the trickster.<br />
<br />
If you get back the answer no, then the possibilities are:<br />
<ul>
<li>A is the truth-teller and B is the trickster (both statements true, so answer is no which truth-teller truthfully gives)</li>
<li>A is the trickster</li>
<li>A is the liar and B is the trickster (1. false, 2. true so one statement true so answer is yes which liar lies about)</li>
</ul>
In all three cases, C is not the trickster.<br />
<br />
Once you have found a person who is not the trickster, just point to a door and ask the person:<br />
<br />
"Would your <b>exact</b> opposite say this door leads to freedom?"<br />
<br />
Thus, reducing the problem to the previous case. </div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Thomas Woolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07895826981003298350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260402586614625721.post-48772110687545213782019-03-05T11:49:00.000+00:002019-03-05T11:49:04.125+00:00Maths at the Movies: CUBEThis week is a little different, and I've got to say perhaps one of the most interesting episodes we've ever done!<br />
<br />
We are joined by the multi-talented<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://twitter.com/lskains?lang=en">Dr</a> <a href="http://lyleskains.com/">Lyle</a> <a href="https://www.bangor.ac.uk/music-and-media/staff/lyle-skains/en">Skains</a></span></div>
<br />
who uses her research knowledge of evolutionary biology and digital literature to show us how to really write a good movie!<br />
<br />
Highlights this week are:<br />
<ul>
<li>Liz geeking out with Lyle, will they go on holiday together?</li>
<li>Ben misunderstanding publishing, will he ever get his cheese and wine?</li>
<li>Thomas reliving his childhood years, when did he stop being so nihilistic</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="30" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="https://archive.org/embed/MathsatCUBE" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="500"></iframe>
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you're interested in watching <a href="https://amzn.to/2USfrLz">CUBE</a> you can follow the Amazon link below. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://amzn.to/2TFJlT6"><img alt="https://amzn.to/2TFJlT6" border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="188" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0BFwQZYdj9k/XGAJwXIOjQI/AAAAAAAAJPk/3fcXx01L78gJpfDiYnRaDncQPJn1RqawACLcBGAs/s1600/CUBE.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Further reading links:<br />
<ul>
<li>Wondering what digital fiction looks like? Well try <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/a/17776-football"><i>What football will look like in the future</i>?</a> and prepare to have your horizons expanded.</li>
<li>If you're interested in the future of literature then have a look at <a href="https://amzn.to/2I7h0DQ">Lyle's recent book</a>. It discusses such subjects as: indie publishers, hybrid authors, and fanfiction writers.</li>
<li>Lyle's also written plenty of <a href="http://lyleskains.com/Fiction.html#Novels">digital fiction</a>. Again, this is reading, but not as we know it.</li>
<li>If you're lazy and got be bothered to read then why not try Lyle's podcast <a href="http://podcast.wonderboxpublishing.com/">Wonderbox publishing</a>.</li>
<li>If you've seen <a href="https://amzn.to/2BtjJ4F">CUBE</a>, when not try <a href="https://amzn.to/2WS3yai">CUBE ZERO</a> and <a href="https://amzn.to/2BtrXtv">CUBE 2: Hypercube</a>. They are equally as bonkers!</li>
<li>The <a href="http://www.geocities.ws/denkinezuji/cubemath.html">geocities CUBE website</a> that actually investigated the mathematics more than we did!</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Subscribe via </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/maths-at/id1282043127" style="text-align: justify;">iTunes</a><span style="text-align: justify;">.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Follow us on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/PodcastMathsAt">@PodcastMathsAt</a></span><span style="text-align: justify;">, as well as <a href="https://twitter.com/ThomasEWoolley">@ThomasEWoolley</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/benmparker">@benmparker</a>. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Thomas Woolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07895826981003298350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260402586614625721.post-72984482427569638792019-03-01T14:34:00.001+00:002019-03-07T11:42:36.229+00:00Puzzle from Fermat's RoomThree people guard two doors. You know that:<br />
<ul>
<li>one person always tells the truth;</li>
<li>one person always lies;</li>
<li>one person randomly decides whether
to tell the truth or lie (assume lies and truth are equally likely);</li>
<li>the three know amongst themselves who they are.</li>
</ul>
You can ask two questions to the people. The answer to which must either be yes or no. What question do you ask and who do you ask?<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i55VPVaVuo4/XHlCqnTNQtI/AAAAAAAAJQc/2xlNgDreMJIbyOGPWbQsb24dhkg8Ssb2gCLcBGAs/s1600/The_Knaves_of_Spades_%2526_Diamonds.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="319" data-original-width="289" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i55VPVaVuo4/XHlCqnTNQtI/AAAAAAAAJQc/2xlNgDreMJIbyOGPWbQsb24dhkg8Ssb2gCLcBGAs/s1600/The_Knaves_of_Spades_%2526_Diamonds.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Some further rules for the more pedantic:<br />
<ol>
<li>You cannot ask questions like "Will it rain tomorrow?", because neither the truth teller, nor the liar can be sure.</li>
<li>You cannot ask questions like "What would you answer if I ask you
blablabla?", because if you ask the random liar they don't what their next answer will be. </li>
<li>You cannot ask something like "Will you answer No to this question?", because the truth-teller can't answer this question.</li>
<li>All decisions must be based on the yes and/or no answers only.</li>
<li>This puzzle is not <b></b>about "how to find a way around the rules". </li>
</ol>
Thomas Woolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07895826981003298350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260402586614625721.post-23830255511130503662019-02-28T15:53:00.000+00:002019-02-28T15:53:04.353+00:00Answer to the Good Will Hunting puzzleIn our <a href="http://www.mathsat.co.uk/2019/02/maths-at-movies-good-will-hunting.html">Good Will Hunting</a> podcast we asked:<br />
<br />
What is the highest number of eggs that you <i><b>CAN'T</b></i> make, when you have boxes of size 6, 9 and 20?<br />
<br />
Turns out this is called the <a href="http://mathworld.wolfram.com/McNuggetNumber.html">McNuggest number</a> as McNuggets originally came in boxes of this size.<br />
<br />
In this case, it turns out that 43 is the largest number you can't make, but how do you prove it?<br />
<br />
Well we note that:<br />
44 = 4x6+20<br />
45 = 5x9<br />
46 = 6+2x20<br />
47 = 3x9+20<br />
48 = 8x6<br />
49 = 9+2x20<br />
<br />
Since we have 6 consecutive numbers that can all be made from 6, 9 and 20, then every number there after can be made simply by adding an appropriate multiple of 6, e.g. 50 = 44+6, 51 = 45+6, etc.<br />
<br />
<br />
Simple, no?<br />
<br />
<br />Thomas Woolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07895826981003298350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260402586614625721.post-67599144800607904912019-02-19T09:00:00.000+00:002019-02-19T09:00:08.530+00:00Maths at the Movies: Fermat's RoomWelcome to the strangely erotic episode of Maths at, where we watch the tense, psychological thriller, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1016301/">Fermat's Room</a> (or La Habitación de Fermat, for you Spanish speakers) and we ask the real questions of... WHAT HAPPENED ON THE BOAT?<br />
<br />
<br />
As per usual, the time line is all wonky. This episode does follow on from <a href="http://www.mathsat.co.uk/2019/01/maths-at-movies-beautiful-mind.html">A Beautiful Mind</a>, but was recorded a long time after, so although we talk about our lives having changed dramatically, it's only bee two weeks for you and you already know what's happened if you've listened to our <a href="http://www.mathsat.co.uk/2018/12/maths-at-christmas-2018.html">Christmas episode</a>. It's so hard living in a linear timeline.<br />
<br />
<br />
So if you want to know:<br />
<ul>
<li>what Liz's ovaries sound like;</li>
<li>which superpower our hosts would rather have;</li>
<li>how Ben would overhaul examination procedures,</li>
</ul>
then join us in our latest episode of being distracted by pop corn makers.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="30" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="https://archive.org/embed/Mathsat_FermatsRoom" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="500"></iframe> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
If you're interested in watching <a href="https://amzn.to/2t0pfXU">Fermat's Room</a> and want an easier time than we had in finding it, simply click the Amazon link below.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://amzn.to/2HR89Ge" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="174" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cXn4o3OhmHE/XFakfKjgwuI/AAAAAAAAJPI/fPXC0zEurC4p62y1mJVrKiodul9ePo4EACLcBGAs/s1600/51PZuo8iNmL._SL250_.jpg" /></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Further reading links:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.math.harvard.edu/~knill/mathmovies/text/fermat/">videos of every puzzle</a> from the film;</li>
<li>a complete writeup of <a href="http://bilimvesaire.com/2016/12/genel/fermats-room-what-is-mathematics-of-junior-high-is-good-for/">questions and answers</a> from the film</li>
<li>A <a href="https://amzn.to/2UAIvXO">duck popcorn maker</a>, should you want such a thing.</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Subscribe via </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/maths-at/id1282043127" style="text-align: justify;">iTunes</a><span style="text-align: justify;">.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Follow us on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/PodcastMathsAt">@PodcastMathsAt</a></span><span style="text-align: justify;">, as well as <a href="https://twitter.com/ThomasEWoolley">@ThomasEWoolley</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/benmparker">@benmparker</a>. </span></div>
Thomas Woolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07895826981003298350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260402586614625721.post-48396439800509474902019-02-12T12:13:00.000+00:002019-02-12T12:13:12.408+00:00Puzzle from Good Will HuntingBen's local shop stocks eggs in boxes of capacity 6, 9, or 20 eggs. What is the highest number of eggs that you <i><b>CAN'T</b></i> make?<br />
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For example, you can make 29 with one 9 box and one 20 box, 29=9+20,<br />
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you can make 30 with a five 6 boxes, 30=5x6.<br />
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but you can't make 31.<br />
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For those wanting an extra puzzle, can you <i><b>prove</b></i> that your answer is correct. Namely, all numbers higher than your chosen integer can be written as a linear combination of 6, 9 or 12.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L0mfBrR267M/XFmAVUFYZlI/AAAAAAAAJPU/_mn9qPOtZD0vM5iJdToKtfVHkpXOnSxGwCLcBGAs/s1600/6-Pack-Chicken-Eggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1280" height="242" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L0mfBrR267M/XFmAVUFYZlI/AAAAAAAAJPU/_mn9qPOtZD0vM5iJdToKtfVHkpXOnSxGwCLcBGAs/s400/6-Pack-Chicken-Eggs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Thomas Woolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07895826981003298350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260402586614625721.post-85143025265153114612019-02-08T15:00:00.000+00:002019-02-08T15:00:13.443+00:00Answer to A Beautiful Mind puzzleIn our podcast episode on <a href="http://www.mathsat.co.uk/2019/01/maths-at-movies-beautiful-mind.html">A Beautiful Mind</a>
the following question was asked:<br />
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Two trains are on the same track. They start 100km apart and head towards each other at a speed of 50km/h.<br />
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Whilst
these two trains are heading for their collision a fly starts out on
the front of one train and zooms directly to the front of the other at a
speed of 75km/h (see the animation above). Once the fly reaches the
second train it immediately darts back to the front of the first train
at the same speed and repeats this back and forth motion until the two
trains collide and the fly is squashed on impact.<br />
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How far has the fly traveled, before it meets its demise?<br />
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One way to approach this problem is through infinite series. Namely, we find how far the fly during the first journey, the second journey, the third journey, etc. and add them all up. Thankfully, there is a fairly nice formula that provides this <a href="http://mathworld.wolfram.com/TwoTrainsPuzzle.html">answer</a>.<br />
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However, a much simpler way to calculate the distance is by realising that the changes in direction do not matter. Namely, all we are asking is how far can a fly travel in the hour it takes for the trains to hit each other? Clearly, this is simply 75 km. Sometimes, a moment's thought can save an hour's work!<br />
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As mentioned last time, John von Neumann was said to have immediately answered this problem, but when pressed on his solution method he said that he has used the infinite series method. Ah to have the mind of a genius!<br />
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This and other aspects of von Neumann's genius are discussed in Raymond Flood's excellent Gresham College talk, below (plus you get a bit of Alan Turing for free, which Thomas is always happy about).<br />
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<br />Thomas Woolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07895826981003298350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260402586614625721.post-9290991522590227652019-02-05T09:00:00.000+00:002019-02-05T09:00:10.355+00:00Maths at the Movies: Good Will HuntingLast week we did <a href="https://www.mathsat.co.uk/2019/01/maths-at-movies-beautiful-mind.html">A Beautiful Mind</a> and now <a href="https://amzn.to/2TsETq6">Good Will Hunting</a>. We are really hitting all the well-known maths films at the moment aren't we?<br />
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More importantly joining us this week we have the wonderful<br />
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<a href="http://singingbanana.com/"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Dr James Grime</span></a></div>
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Philanthropist, playboy, billionaire... he is none of this things, but he may have identified the real Will Hunting!</div>
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This week we touch on such subjects as:<br />
<ul>
<li>Is University a scam?</li>
<li>Good Will Hunting needs a prequel!</li>
<li>Will James and Liz ever write a paper about the maths of Dirty Dancing?</li>
</ul>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="30" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="https://archive.org/embed/Mathsat_GoodWillHunting" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="500"></iframe>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you're interested in watching <a href="https://amzn.to/2C0s3bA">Good Will Hunting</a> you can follow the Amazon link below. </span></span><br />
<ul>
</ul>
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2SBRhUW"><img alt="https://amzn.to/2SBRhUW" border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-byecuY25gxY/XC9zBC8vJCI/AAAAAAAAJOQ/jzJHQfHLLegBh20zu69Z-WOeAGiXotRUACLcBGAs/s320/Good_will_hunting.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Will-Hunting-Robin-Williams/dp/B004UGAMSK/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1546613442&sr=8-2&keywords=good+will+hunting&linkCode=li3&tag=mathsat-21&linkId=2c392b124172259e216bb6a1f11e98df&language=en_GB" target="_blank"></a><br />
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Further reading links:<br />
<ul>
<li>What is the <a href="http://mathworld.wolfram.com/Hadwiger-NelsonProblem.html">Hadwiger-Nelson</a> problem and who is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aubrey_de_Grey">Aubrey de Grey</a>?</li>
<li>We also mention the fields of <a href="https://mathigon.org/world/Combinatorics">Combinatorics</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82zlRaRUsaY">Graph theory</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXc7ifrpvnA">Fourier theory</a>. </li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Subscribe via </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/maths-at/id1282043127" style="text-align: justify;">iTunes</a><span style="text-align: justify;">.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Follow us on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/PodcastMathsAt">@PodcastMathsAt</a></span><span style="text-align: justify;">, as well as <a href="https://twitter.com/ThomasEWoolley">@ThomasEWoolley</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/benmparker">@benmparker</a>. </span></div>
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Thomas Woolleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07895826981003298350noreply@blogger.com0