Ask a Mathematician

Have a math question you’ve always wondered about? Ask away! Ask a Mathematician is your chance to get answers from Nick, SUMM’s Mathematician in Residence. Explore responses to questions from other curious humans or submit your own question to be featured in a future article.

No question is too big, too small, too weird, or too practical. Why do prime numbers matter? How does infinity work? Is there really math behind music, sports, or baking? We’re here for all of it.

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How does the Pythagorean theorem work?
How does the Pythagorean theorem work?
Are there any mathematicians from Texas?
Are there any mathematicians from Texas?
Can AI produce novel mathematical proofs?
Can AI produce novel mathematical proofs?
What is the area of the circle?
What is the area of the circle?
How does geometry work?
How does geometry work?
How hard did you study?
How hard did you study?
How do number lines work?
How do number lines work?
Are there any mathematicians from Nigeria?
Are there any mathematicians from Nigeria?
Can you move two sticks to make the equation true?
Can you move two sticks to make the equation true?
Who created the supercomputer?
Who created the supercomputer?
How did people figure out what you call a number like 619 and when rotated is still 619.
How did people figure out what you call a number like 619 and when rotated is still 619.
Does food have math in it?
Does food have math in it?
How does carrying the one work?
How does carrying the one work?
How did people figure out why some doodles are impossible? What is the rule?
How did people figure out why some doodles are impossible? What is the rule?
How do patterns work?
How do patterns work?
Are there other ways to keep track of time than clocks and sundials?
Are there other ways to keep track of time than clocks and sundials?
Does Minecraft have math in it?
Does Minecraft have math in it?
I wonder how many fire hydrants are in Seattle
I wonder how many fire hydrants are in Seattle
I wonder what the first 100,000,000 digits of pi are.
I wonder what the first 100,000,000 digits of pi are.
How did people figure out math symbols?
How did people figure out math symbols?
I wonder how the Gavin Theobald equation works with concave polygons.
I wonder how the Gavin Theobald equation works with concave polygons.
Do animals do math?
Do animals do math?
I wonder how you can prove every date is solvable for the “puzzle a day” game.
I wonder how you can prove every date is solvable for the “puzzle a day” game.
When were quadratic formulas discovered?
When were quadratic formulas discovered?
Are there any mathematicians from Antarctica?
Are there any mathematicians from Antarctica?
I wonder how infinity was created?
I wonder how infinity was created?
Is pride mathy?
Is pride mathy?
What is π+π?
What is π+π?
What is the power of one million?
What is the power of one million?

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