Math in the News: The Gender Gap is Closed for Business

By Matt, on July 29th, 2008%

Math made the headlines last Thursday, with an article about a recent study in the journal Science, which discredits the perceived Gender Gap in mathematics. The AP article can be found here – if you can’t bring yourself to read the article, you can also watch the following clip from NBC Nightly News on the . . . → Read More: Math in the News: The Gender Gap is Closed for Business

Leave a comment   Math Education, Math in the News, Women and Math

Math on TV: Numb3rs

By Matt, on July 24th, 2008%

You knew it had to be coming. Any self-respecting individual interested in the intersection of math with popular culture must, at some point, discuss the canonical element of said intersection: CBS’s own crime solving math show, Numb3rs. The use of the 3 is to eliminate any ambiguity surrounding the subject matter of a show . . . → Read More: Math on TV: Numb3rs

2 comments   Math on TV

Designer Math

By Matt, on July 21st, 2008%

A well designed t-shirt has the power to delight and inspire; it can break the ice at the start of the evening, and seal the deal at the end. It can be a powerful tool for social interaction, and can help forge the bonds that will last a lifetime.

It is with this in mind that . . . → Read More: Designer Math

One comment   Et cetera

Math Gets Around: Politics

By Matt, on July 16th, 2008%

Many students often ask their teachers, “Why do I have to learn this boring mathematics? Nobody uses mathematics anyhow.” This new feature, entitled Math Gets Around, will attempt to show you that in fact, mathematics will pop up even in the least likely of places. So learn those multiplication tables, chief.

Today, we see how mathematics has . . . → Read More: Math Gets Around: Politics

4 comments   Math Gets Around, Politics

Three and a Half Things You Shouldn’t Say to a Mathematician

By Matt, on July 11th, 2008%

Mathematicians are a rare specimen to behold. While not quite endangered, they tend to congregate in areas less prone to large population densities, such as libraries, or the basements of math buildings, thus making their numbers seem lower than they actually are. This type of behavior is fortunate, for it is because of these . . . → Read More: Three and a Half Things You Shouldn’t Say to a Mathematician

3 comments   Et cetera

Math in the News: All for Algebra, and Algebra for All?

By Matt, on July 9th, 2008%

With the blessing of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, it looks like the great state of Kah-lee-foh-nya is set to require all 8th graders to take Algebra I. The Sacramento Bee has an article regarding this development, see the link here:

http://www.sacbee.com/1089/story/1072095.html

A valiant effort, to be sure. But what good does this do, aside from making for . . . → Read More: Math in the News: All for Algebra, and Algebra for All?

2 comments   Math Education, Math in the News