Explain the theory of relativity
In today’s Ask a Mathematician, we look at the theory of relativity.
Talking Math: Counting Down
You don't have to be a math whiz to turn everyday countdowns into powerful learning moments. From calculating days until Halloween at the dinner table to breaking big numbers into weeks and fractions, see how simple family conversations build real-world logic in this month’s Talking Math.
Math in… Voice Leading
When writing chord progressions for a song, it often sounds more pleasing if each chord has something in common with the next. How can math help create a “nearby” chord palette?
Is math a science?
In this week’s Ask a Mathematician, we look at the often blurry line between math and science.
Math in… Web Search
When you use a search engine, the results come to you in an order and often the thing you are looking for is towards the top. There’s some math behind that!
Is there math in Seattle?
While there’s some math in Seattle landmarks, there’s also plenty of math to be found in your Seattle neighborhood. Join me on a walk around my neighborhood, where I spot some interesting geometric and topological structures.
Parent Ninja Move: More Bedtime Math Moments
Want to turn everyday reading into an easy math lesson without adding more to your plate? Educator Erin Wahler-Cleveland shares a simple "parent ninja move" to naturally spark early math moments using your child’s favorite bedtime storybooks.
Math in… Traffic Signs
Stop signs are octagons and yield signs are triangles. What other shapes do we use?
Why do we have to do the P first in PEMDAS?
In this week’s Ask a Mathematician, we look at the order of operations and how it came about.
Math in… Orange Peels
If you’ve ever tried meticulously tearing an orange peel off as a single piece, this week's MIRL looks at one of the shapes you might end up with!
Whose idea was it to put letters in math?
In this week’s Ask a Mathematician, we look a the ways letters were slowly introduced into math over the ages.
Parent Ninja Move: Make Story Time Double as Math Time
Want to turn everyday reading into an easy math lesson without adding more to your plate? Educator Erin Wahler-Cleveland shares a simple "parent ninja move" to naturally spark early math moments using your child’s favorite bedtime storybooks.
Math in… Map Projections
This week’s MIRL looks at some of the challenges in making a flat map from our spherical world.
Polyhex Puzzle-a-Day
In this week’s Ask a Mathematician, we look at Steven Stadnicki’s polyhex puzzle-a-day calendar.
Math in… Balloons
Have you ever noticed that the hardest part of blowing up a balloon is at the beginning? There’s some math and science behind that!
How does the Pythagorean theorem work?
In this week’s Ask a Mathematician, we look at a proof of the Pythagorean theorem, some generalizations, and its relationship with distances in 2D, 3D, and beyond.
Math in… Colors
How can math help make our world more vibrant? This week’s MIRL focuses on some of the math of colors!
Math in the FIFA World Cup?
You don't have to love soccer to love the math behind the World Cup. From grueling travel schedules to the wild geometry of the new Trionda ball, see how data shapes the biggest tournament on Earth in this month’s Talking Math.
Are there any mathematicians from Texas?
Are there mathematicians from Texas? Absolutely! In this week’s Ask a Mathematician, we look at the distinguished careers of Thomas Hales and Mary Wheeler.
Math in… Hockey
With the Stanley Cup finals continuing on Tuesday, this week's MIRL looks at some of the angles in hockey.