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Double Maths First Thing: Issue 13

DMFT is significantly less perplexing than HMRC

Hello! My name is Colin and I am a mathematician on a mission to spread mathematical joy.

This week, I’ve made another contribution to the OEIS (currently in review) about the excellent puzzle #23 from Scroggsvent that Matt has written up here. I’ve also written a blog post I’m unusually pleased about: when Michelle Kwan skated last at the 1995 Figure Skating Worlds, she ended up fourth. However, her performance also caused Surya Bonaly (previously in third) to overtake Nicole Bobek (second) into the silver medal position. That’s… irregular.

Let’s do some silly things today. First of all, let’s answer a question you didn’t know you needed answering: Can you complete the game The Oregon Trail if you wait at a river for 14,272 yearsThe Oregon Trail wasn’t part of my childhood, but games like it were. I love this.

If you’ve read my blog for any length of time, you’ll know I enjoy the odd bit of ninja trickery, and this is a very odd bit of ninja trickery.

I also love correcting errors! Here’s Charles Petzold correcting some very wrong math[s] about flight times.

Brackett has pointed me at Public Math[s], If there’s one thing maths needs, it’s more zines. Make some! Don’t know how to? Maybe you should hire Hana.

Upcoming

Friend and hero Rob Eastaway is giving a free talk for the Historical Association on Tuesday 21st January at 5pm GMT about the introduction of Hindu-Arabic numerals to England. You can sign up to watch it here.

It’s MathsJam night around the world on Tuesday — find your local event here; I’ll be at the Weymouth one.

I’ve just caught up with the November Finite Group live-stream on combinatorial games. I watch them with my 11-year-old, who is forever pausing them to ask questions. It’s cheaper than many of the movies he wants to watch, and more engaging. The next one is on Thursday 23rd at 3pm GMT and is a crafternoon with Ayliean and Scroggs.

That’s all I’ve got for this week. If you have friends and/or colleagues who would enjoy Double Maths First Thing, do send them the link to sign up — they’ll be very welcome here.

If you’ve missed the previous issues of DMFT or — somehow — this one, you can find the archive courtesy of my dear friends at the Aperiodical.

Meanwhile, if there’s something I should know about, you can find me on Mathstodon as @icecolbeveridge, or at my personal website. You can also just reply to this email if there’s something you want to tell me.

Until next time,

C

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