Humanistic Mathematics
Articles
Symbol-Crunching
With the Gambler's Ruin Problem by Doron Zeilberger
The Gambler's Ruin problem is an apt metaphor for life. A tiny advantage gets
amplified enormously in an artificial way, and just being a tiny bit luckier
(or smarter or stronger or better-looking) gets you very far in the long run.
That's why my good friend Geroge appears to be a so much better backgammon player
than his wife Martha, even though he is only slightly better. But today, thanks
to our silicon brethern, we can answer many more questions, exactly and symbolically,
than Abraham De Moivre and James Bernoulli could answer three hundred years ago.
Mathematics:
Why the brain sees maths as beauty by James Gallagher
Brain scans show a complex string of numbers and letters in mathematical formulae
can evoke the same sense of beauty as artistic masterpieces and music from
the greatest composers. (also
see full journal article by Semir Zeki et al)
Science Museum unveils £5m plan for 'world's foremost' mathematics gallery
The layout of the new permanent gallery at the Science Museum in London is inspired
by mathematical ideas.
Fibonacci
clock: can you tell the time on the world's most stylish nerd timepiece? by Alex Bellos
A clock designed by Philippe Chrétien displays the time using the "golden
rectangle," a representation of ther Fibonacci series.
Videos
Nature
by Numbers by Cristóbal Vila
A movie inspired by numbers, geometry and nature.
The Most Important Video You Will Ever See
Physicist Albert Bartlett explains the exponential function and the consequences
of steady growth.
Visualizing
Pi: Mural with High School Math Students, by Ellie Balk
A mural project that uses mathematics to connect Brooklyn students to their community
through a visualization of Pi.
Golden
Ratio - Making a Math Metal Anthem, by Numberphile
Phi is embedded in every aspect of a "Math Metal" song.
Mathematics and Beauty
“Is mathematics in any way related to the concept that the ordinary person would
call beautiful?” Round table discussion.
Can
Math Equations Be A Form of Art? by Tara Long
A new study shows how math can be perceived as a beautiful piece of art in
the brain.
Images
Golden Meaning: graphic artists depict the golden ratio – in pictures
The world’s top graphic designers illustrate the maths of the golden ratio.
Book Descriptions
Love
and Math by Edward Frenkel
Mathematician Edward Frenkel shows that mathematics, far from occupying a specialist
niche, goes to the heart of all matter, uniting us across cultures, time, and
space.
Links
National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities
Act Of 1965, National Endowment for the Arts Appropriations and
related legislation
Mathematics is not mentioned in the Act but can be found on the National
Foundation for the Arts site.
mathbeauty
What is mathematical beauty?
What are examples of mathematical beauty?
What role could/should mathematical beauty play in the teaching of mathematics?
George W. Hart
A mathematical sculptor/designer whose mission is to show the world that math
is cool.