The Math Mojo Chronicles

Triangular Numbers and the Devil

Recently, inquiring readers six-year old (!) Julien and his Mom, asked about Triangular Numbers:

Hello, My son is currently working his way through The Number Devil (by Hans Magnus Enzenberger) and is enjoying it thoroughly. He was particularly happy about the triangular numbers in Chapter 5 because I had just coincidentally given him a worksheet [...]

The Parallax View

Only having one method to accomplish anything handicaps you. Having a second method does not degrade the first. It enhances it. It makes each part greater, and it makes the whole greater than the sum of the parts. [...]

Math Mojo vrs. Anti-intellectualism

Knowledge isn't something to be afraid of, nor is it something to be proud of. It is just something to be curious about. Curiosity ends when you think you know the answer, but you don't care why it is true - you just know [...]

Occam’s Razor – A Tenet of Math Mojo

Occam's Razor is generally seen as "The simplest explanation is generally the best one." This is true, but the phrasing is dangerous ... I think it should be "The simplest explanation that makes sense and does not contradict other known facts is generally the best one." Of course that is more like what William of Occam meant, but unfortunately it is not how many people [...]

Math Mojo and Financial Insights

Getting out of "but the teacher said we have to do it this way" way of thinking is about the best thing you can do for your mental development. Yeah, maybe you have to do it that way in school, to get a grade, but please realize that grading is a way for schools to keep you obedient, not make you enlightened. [...]

Homunculus Nebula

Sky and Telescope.com has an interesting article this month. In “A Rogue Star Going Wild?” (no, it’s not about her) it discusses the Homunculus Nebula.

It’s not exactly a math article, but Professor Homunculus likes it anyway. Check it out.

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Speed Addition Demonstration and Tips

I’m almost finished putting up the first week of the new “Quick and Dirty Multiplication” Math Mojo course.

In the meantime, a few people have asked me to get to work on a “Quick and Dirty Addition” Math Mojo course.

I won’t be able to get to that for a few weeks, but if you need immediate [...]

Mathematics in the Soviet Union

There was a wonderful article in the Wall Street Journal today about mathematics in the former Soviet Union. It is worth reading for anyone interested in finding out a little about the inner beauty of math.

Here’s a short except:

what mathematics really is: “It was a wonderful education… Gelfand amazed me by talking of mathematics as [...]

Goodbye, Soupy

Soupy was a comedian, who hosted a children's show in the 50's and 60's. He was a master absurdist, with an incredible sense of humor, and a wonderful respect for the minds of his audience. His show was booked as a "children's show", but his material was aimed a little higher - over the kid's shoulders with a nodding wink to their [...]

Martin Gardner – Happy Birthday!

Today is Martin Gardner's 95th [...]