IntMath Newsletter: Model, animations, software
By Murray Bourne, 29 Aug 2018
29 Aug 2018
1. New on IntMath
(a) EFFEKT bridge model
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In the last Newsletter, the puzzle was to model the EFFEKT bridge, a spiral in the shape of a hyperboloid. Here's my solution: |
(b) Math Art in Code: Animated Lissajous figures
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We can get interesting and beautiful curves when combining two signals. See: |
2. Resources
(a) oPhysics interactive simulations
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Here's over 100 physics simulations including kinematics, forces, waves, fluids. There's even circuit drawing tools. |
(b) Topology and Geometry Software
In the article, With new technology, mathematicians turn numbers into art, we read how various mathematicians are pushing the envelope when it comes to exploring mathematical concepts within the real and virtual realms.
[Image source: Frank Farris, CC BY]
One of the resources mentioned in that article is the following, developed by Jeff Weeks, one of the "rock stars" of the mathematical world.
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In these games with a mathematical underpinning, you can explore polyhedra (tetrahedrons, icosidodecahedrons, etc) and 4-D mazes. You can even play pool on a hyperbolic surface. Some are for mobile devices, others for desktop. Go to: |
The development of these games was supported by the (US) National Science Foundation.
3. Math in the news
What is the smallest number of colors that you'd need to color any graph consisting of points connected by segments of the same length?
This puzzle has fascinated mathematicians since the 1950s when it was first posed. It was long held that 4 colors should do the job.
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However, earlier this year, amateur mathematician Aubrey de Grey proposed the first unit-distance graph that requires at least five colors. Here's the article: Decades-Old Graph Problem Yields to Amateur Mathematician |
4. Math Movies
(a) 3 Ways to spot a bad statistic
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We're living in a world of "alternative facts", but this is a dangerous situation. It's crucial we understand how statistics are collected, funded, interpreted and used. |
(b) How does your body know what time it is?
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The story of Michel Siffre is a fascinating one. He went into a cave for months to see the effect on his perception of time. |
5. Math puzzles
The puzzle in the last IntMath Newsletter was about the EFFEKT bridge, which I addressed earlier in this Newsletter.
New math puzzle: Factorial
What's the maximum number of times 2 can divide exactly into factorial 50 (written 50!)?
You can leave your response here.
6. Final thought
"Learning is not compulsory - neither is survival."
[W. Edwards Derning]
Until next time, enjoy whatever you learn.
See the 11 Comments below.
