Category Archives: Mathematics

A curious mathematical identity

Posted on August 18, 2019 by

Update: There is more subtlety to the infinite case, which I’ve now addressed in the post! Update 2: Learning so much messing with this! Added a bit more discussion near the end. So on twitter yesterday, the following mathematical identity … Continue reading →

Posted in ... the Hell?, Mathematics | Leave a comment

The geometry of weird-shaped dice

Posted on March 9, 2017 by

I’ve been enjoying a bit of reminiscing about my childhood lately, hunting down old copies of role-playing games I enjoyed in my youth as well as exploring newer games that have come out since then.  One thing that has changed dramatically since … Continue reading →

Posted in Mathematics, role-playing games | 15 Comments

Optics and infinity at American Scientist!

Posted on March 9, 2016 by

I’ve been kind of quiet here lately, partly due to my job and partly due to writing blog posts and essays for other venues.  Happily, one of these blog posts is now available to read over at American Scientist, on … Continue reading →

Posted in Mathematics, Optics, Personal | 1 Comment

Beautiful equations of math and physics: my picks

Posted on January 24, 2016 by

A few days ago, the BBC introduced a series of posts in which they asked mathematicians and physicists to share their favorite equations.  It’s a fun list, and the original post can be found here. One of the equations selected … Continue reading →

Posted in Mathematics, Physics | 12 Comments

Infinite hotels in swirling beams of light

Posted on July 24, 2015 by

I’ve noticed there seems to be a general unspoken rule about the relationship between mathematics and science: any mathematics, no matter how abstract or seemingly disconnected from reality, eventually finds use or representation in the natural world.  For example, most … Continue reading →

Posted in Mathematics, Optics | 12 Comments

“Count Like an Egyptian” over at The Finch & Pea!

Posted on October 6, 2014 by

For those who just can’t get enough of my writing (anyone?), I wrote a guest post over at The Finch & Pea about the book Count Like an Egyptian by David Reimer. Check it out! Not only do I discuss … Continue reading →

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Curves… in… spaaaace! (1890)

Posted on March 25, 2014 by

One of the tragedies of STEM education is the seemingly eternal perception by the general public that mathematics is boring and repetitive.  Most people, of course, end their math education with algebra at most, though some work their way through … Continue reading →

Posted in Mathematics | 6 Comments

Infinite series: not quite as weird as some would say

Posted on January 18, 2014 by

Updated with a third footnote clarifying my use of the term “diverge,” thanks to suggestion by Evelyn Lamb, who has also written an excellent discussion of the problem with the video.  At the end of this post I list all the … Continue reading →

Posted in ... the Hell?, Mathematics | 32 Comments

Infinity is weird: what does it all mean?

Posted on January 2, 2014 by

The final installment in a series of posts on the size of the infinite, as described in mathematical set theory.  The first post can be read here, the second here, and the third here. We have taken a long, strange journey into … Continue reading →

Posted in Mathematics | 5 Comments

Infinity is weird: to infinity, and beyond!

Posted on December 5, 2013 by

The third and it-turns-out-not-final installment in a series of posts on the size of the infinite, as described in mathematical set theory.  The first post can be read here, and the second here. I think Buzz Lightyear captures the spirit of this … Continue reading →

Posted in Mathematics | 1 Comment