x It’s an unpresupposing little letter, $x$. In fact, that’s the reason we use it to represent something we don’t know. But how do you write it down? When Vijay Krishnan tweeted a link to an American college professor’s page on mathematical handwriting, I was shocked to learn that he thought adding a hook to…
A new episode of the Math/Maths Podcast has been released. A conversation about mathematics between the UK and USA from Pulse-Project.org. This week Samuel and Peter spoke about: Bill Thurston (1946-2012); Jerry Nelson (1934-2012); Neil Armstrong (1930-2012); A mathematician goes to the beach; solid state quantum computer; Searching for Grigori Perelman; A-level and GCSE results;…
Researchers have designed and fabricated a quantum processor capable of factoring a composite number – 15 – into its constituent prime factors, 3 and 5. According to a press release, this “represents a milestone on the road map to building a quantum computer capable of factoring much larger numbers, with significant implications for cryptography and…
An IMA/LMS press release points out that A-level and AS-level Mathematics and Further Mathematics entries are continuing to rise. The number of A-level Mathematics entries is up 3.3% on last year, with AS Mathematics increasing by 5.1%. Further Mathematics also continues to grow, with entries increasing by 7.6% at A-level this year and 12.9% at…
[vimeo url=http://vimeo.com/47502276] Matthew Shlian sculpts paper by folding and cutting it.
William Thurston died yesterday of cancer, aged 65. Thurston was one of the greatest contemporary mathematicians; a huge figure in low-dimensional topology. I won’t bother writing out a mathematical biography – Wikipedia and MacTutor have all the relevant information, as usual, and I won’t pretend I know a huge amount about the exact details of Thurston’s…
As an avid knitter, and mathematician, the birth of a small human in my family inspired me to create a mathematical toy for the tiny person to enjoy while learning about shapes. With my favourite platonic solid being the icosahedron, it was the obvious choice for a knitted toy, and with stellation being all the…