Tag Archives: Maths

The Indisputable Santa Mathematical Advent Calendar
Day 2

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Happy 2nd of December!

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Throughout the month, to accompany the release of our book on the Mathematics of Christmas, Hannah Fry & I are tweeting out Christmathsy bits and pieces, one a day, advent calendar style. Assuming we don’t run out of ideas, that is…

Today’s advent offering is a quick puzzle. Answers via the comments or on Twitter. All correct answers will be rewarded with deep respect and warm Christmas wishes.

Also, there’s still a couple of days to enter yesterday’s competition.

Enjoy!

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE WHOLE CALENDAR SO FAR

The Indisputable Santa Mathematical Advent Calendar
Day 1

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Happy First of December!

Throughout the month, Hannah Fry & I will be tweeting out Christmathsy bits and pieces, one a day, advent calendar style… Assuming we don’t run out of ideas, which is certainly possible (What do you mean we should have thought this through beforehand?).

First up, a competition!

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE WHOLE CALENDAR SO FAR

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Secretest Santa

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In our new book, The Indisputable Existence of Santa Claus, Dr Hannah Fry and I discuss a mathematically superior way to organise your office Secret Santa. However, some people think they have found a flaw in our system…

Never fear though, we have a solution up our sleeves. I just hope you like cutting and sticking…

CLICK HERE FOR THE POST

US Electoral Maths – Seeing the funny side

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Back in 2012, I had a go at doing some stand-up comedy on the maths of US presidential elections for Bright Club (a public engagement scheme for academics). Given that the US is currently careering headlong into another election, it seems a good time to post the video, along with a brief discussion of the maths (or possibly an apology for the maths):

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO AND DISCUSSION

Introducing a new sequence challenge

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OK, so today I’m unveiling a new maths puzzle that, all being well, will run every day until someone discovers the solution. There is even a (very modest) ‘mystery prize’, which I will send to the winner (provided that they do not live somewhere so remote that the postage charges would be ridiculous).

The puzzle is a simple sequence, to which one term will be added each day. Your challenge is simply to determine the mathematical rule behind the sequence.

Click here to see the sequence

I am not really sure how difficult this will be (quite challenging, I think), so we could be here for a long, long time… or equally, it could all be over in a couple of days. Or maybe there will be no guesses at all and we will have to quietly forget all about it. Whichever, it’s all good.