Author Archives: daniela2daniela

The Symmetries of Things

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This week’s book will take understanding of spaces to a whole new level. John Conway, Heidi Burgiel and Chaim Goodman-Strauss are bringing to the layperson (OK, I concede, to laypeople with some math under their belt) an amazingly beautiful topic: the relationship between topology and simmetry. Presenting the discrete groups with the orbifold approach is not only incredibly elegant, but also fruitful, the subject is thus richly connected with other math subjects. As usual I don’t want to clutter with my words and prefer readers to see the book. Only one final comment: most of the book does not really have math prerequisites in the technical sense, but it does require effort and concentration. It is certainly possible for a high-school student or even a younger child to study it, but it has to be someone who enjoys learning. On the other hand, this is the perfect book for those who love to study, but they truly love math because it’s beautiful.

Lenin and the subway

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Comrade Lenin, as President of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic, has lots of work to do, and his workdays finish late at night. Lenin has been married for decades with a comrade and activist, since the days of clandestinity, and loves her very dearly, they have shared everything and have built together a new world, and President Lenin would never divorce her. She has surely not become arrogant with power, and lives in a modest but dignified apartment. Comrade Lenin is, of course, not bound by the bourgeois morality and the contradictory bourgeois family structure, and he has a very attractive young girlfriend. She, too, is not corrupt with power and lives in a modest but dignified apartment not far away. Comrade Lenin, who is very scrupulous and very upright, has thought at length about the best arrangements, so that he should be fair to both, and they have found his suggestion a perfect solution. When he finishes working – at a random time in the evening – he walks from the Kremlin to the subway station, and boards the first train that arrives. According to the direction of the train, he will spend the night with his wife or his lover, because it happens that the two apartments are located on the same subway line, but one needs to take the train in opposite directions.

However, on average, in a month, he spends a night with his wife and the rest of the time with his attractive girl. How can this be?

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Teapots

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We just received a new sketch from Paperbaby. It seems this time he drew for us a pair of teapots. They must have been the Alien Immigration Control officers’, and no doubt Paperbaby is curious and fascinated: he has to be careful, however, and stay away, because water and liquids are very dangerous for him.

Paperbaby must have been looking and thinking, and then he must have been intrigued and decided to share something with us. Please draw something for Paperbaby! He can’t wait. We will make sure to have it delivered in no time.

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Math from outer space

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We received a guest post and we are happy to publish it.

We are not sure of the author’s name, but we’ve heard from reliable sources that, if we really must use an English name, we may call him Paperbaby. Our sources also sent us his passport photo:

 

Our sources say he loves science and math and that he is very bored with immigration formalities. He would love to correspond with math-loving earthling children! Unfortunately, he does not speak any earthly language. What do you think, dear children readers? Is our planet too busy with wars, or shall we find our friend some pen-pals?

Here is the message he sent us. He is, of course, aware we don’t speak any of the many languages he knows, so, he sent us a wordless message.

Anyone is up to the challenge of writing back a response to Paperbaby? We can’t wait for your messages. Our trustworthy contacts in the Alien Immigration Office will doubtlessly forward all messages to Paperbaby, and of course, we will be pleased to post his responses.

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Hello Kitty Space Travel Puzzle

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To start our App of the Week series, I’ve chosen an app for girls. There are all sort of complaints that girls don’t like math and science, and to be honest, I don’t believe them. But, whatever. Nothing is more kawaii than Hello Kitty! And here she is. Watch out, even boys are going to enjoy this one.

http://itunes.apple.com/it/app/hello-kitty-space-travel-puzzle/id352306950?mt=8

The easy puzzles are called easy for a reason, they are kawaii versions of the Konisberg bridges. But then, the game becomes serious. It even takes place on n-tori multiconnected surfaces. Might be cute, but watch out: it bites. Good thing Hello Kitty eats apples, and does not like math ignoramuses, not even with applesauce.

Dimensions

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Our math video of the week series is going to present you a video which will no doubt catch your attention for longer than a week.

http://www.dimensions-math.org/

A couple of hours of mathematical fun, from the second dimension to the fourth and all the way to Hopf fibration, through complex numbers. No prerequisites. Completely free. If you have disposable money, consider sponsoring Dimensions 2.