Portrait of John Conway

This is a short and engaging portrait of John Conway, one of the world’s most recognized mathematicians.

http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2012/03/01/30161/

Conway is decidedly eccentric, which is not uncommon in the world of mathematics.  He loves magic, juggling, and games, and has something of a a reputation as an odd chap.   But his mathematical contributions are numerous and substantial:  Conway’s Game of Life in and of itself is a remarkable mathematical construction, but he is also credited with inventing (or discovering?) surreal numbers.  Conway has also contributed to the theory of sphere packing.

The article above, from the Daily Princetonian, is a quick and lively read, a fun portrait of a brilliant and curious man.

By patrick honner, ago

Surface Gallery

This is a nice visual gallery of algebraic surfaces.

Gallery of Algebraic Surfaces

An algebraic surface is essentially a surface whose equation is a polynomial in three variables (typically  x, y, and z).

Judging from Zeppelinand Zweiloch, our curator must be German.  My favorites are the Dromedar and the Wigwam.   Clicking on an image gives you a better look.

It’s interesting that Mobius, Wendel, and Croissant have no corresponding equation listed.  Are these not algebraic surfaces?

By patrick honner, ago

Notes on the Digital Department

Collaboration and sharing with virtual colleagues has become an invaluable part of my professional life.  Like so many others, I turn to social media for teaching ideas, mathematical conversation, and a supportive and constructive space to reflect.

The extent to which this works continues to amaze me.  And every now and then something happens that reminds me just how remarkable it is.

Recently, I received an email from an English teacher in my school whom I’d never met.  Apparently this teacher had been using 12 Ways to Use the New York Times to Develop Math Literacy with her students all year, completely unaware of my connection to it!  Only because we share a student in common were we ever made aware of our indirect collaboration.

Hopefully as tools and practices continue to grow and expand, the gap between the physical and the digital school will continue to close.  Until then, there are sure to be many more amusing moments like this!

By patrick honner, ago

Statistically Solving Crossword Puzzles

I am lover of crossword puzzles.  I do the NYT crossword puzzle regularly, I’ve competed in the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, and I’ve even dabbled in constructing puzzles myself.

There’s a great deal of crossover between math lovers and crossword puzzle lovers, and one example of this crossover is Matthew Ginsberg.  Ginsberg is a regular puzzle constructor, has a PhD in math from Oxford, and is an expert in artificial intelligence.

Not a huge stretch, then, that he has developed a rather effective crossword puzzle solving robot, Dr. Fill, that is now challenging the top human performers .

Ginsberg runs a company that produces software for the Air Force that helps calculate the most efficient flight path for airplanes.  Here’s the cool part:  “Some of the statistical techniques [used to calculate optimal paths of airplanes] are also handy, it turns out, for solving crossword puzzles.”

Yet another example of how statistical reasoning is emerging as primary tool in modern science and society!

By patrick honner, ago
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