These are the show notes for episode 33 of the Travels in a Mathematical World Podcast. 33 is the smallest integer that can not be expressed as a sum of different triangular numbers. More about 33 from the 33 Mysteries website. Earlier in the year I travelled to Glasgow and visited the University of Glasgow.…
Mathematics Today June: University Liaison Officer’s Report
Careers resources So far in 2009 around 450 students, 7 careers staff and 33 academic staff in 16 audiences have heard me speak on careers for mathematicians. My experience with staff is that they are very appreciative. Usually they either say “Thank you, that really reinforces everything we’ve been saying,” or “Wow, I’ve really learned…
Wolfram Alpha and its geeky sense of humour
…or is it just reflecting mine? Inspired by a suggestion on Twitter to ask Wolfram|Alpha “Are you Skynet?” I had a look around for other geeky easter eggs. Here are a few: What happens at 88mph?What is the meaning of life?What is the average speed of a swallow?Hello, WorldOpen the pod bay doorsAll your base…
Podcast: Episode 32 – Maths news with Sarah Shepherd
These are the show notes for episode 32 of the Travels in a Mathematical World Podcast. 32 is the number of panels in the spherical polyhedron corresponding to the Archimedean solid the truncated icosahedron which is the most popular design of a modern football. More about the truncated icosahedron from Wolfram Mathworld. More about 32…
Podcast: Episode 31 – Matt Parker, Maths communication
These are the show notes for episode 31 of the Travels in a Mathematical World Podcast. 31 is the earliest and the only known case such that the sum of the divisors of two distinct numbers (16 & 25) is the same prime quantity (31), that is to say: 1+2+4+8+16 = 31 and 1+5+25 =…
Maths Promotion and new technologies
Last week I went to a meeting of the Maths Promotors Network in London which had a focus on use of new technologies in mathematics promotion. I spoke at this, giving an introduction and contributing to panels on social networking (with Noel-Ann Bradshaw of the University of Greenwich and Meetings Co-ordinator of the British Society…
Podcast: Episode 30 -Noel-Ann Bradshaw, Ramanujan
These are the show notes for episode 30 of the Travels in a Mathematical World Podcast. 30 is the largest number with the property that all smaller numberscoprime to it are prime. More about 30 from Number Gossip. In the regular Maths History series, Noel-Ann Bradshaw of the University of Greenwich and also Meetings Co-ordinator…