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Call for questions: friggin' MATH, okay?? (Patreon)

Published:
2023-07-24 23:44:46
Edited:
2023-07-24 23:48:30
Imported:
2026-06

Content

Y'all. It's time. We're doing an episode on math. What is it? Who invented it? Why don't you use those college-level calculus skills like, ever? Or do you? Why do some people hate math? Why do others such as my mom, Fancy Nancy Numbers, love it? How does Barbie factor into this?

I'll be interrogating/chatting with author and champion for mathematics, Dr. Eugenia Cheng, who just wrote the book "Is Math REAL?" which might be a line she stole from your journal. Her aim is to rid the world of "math phobia" and has promised to make us all see math in a new light.

I'm hoping after this episode we will think of a jumble of numbers and want to swaddle them and coo like a baby at the concept of abstract mathematics. Leave "Abstract Mathematics and I Cant Remember the Ology Right now but trust me there is one, I'm just on a lot of cold meds" questions for Eugenia below!

Coughing but curious,

Alie

Comments

Mallory Skinner

How can there by a number greater than infinity? Or almost infinity? How can infinity even be a thing?

Jenny Lowe Rhodes

How long has zero been a thing? Who came up with it?

Meg C

What resources are there these days to help bridge the gap between concepts and application? For those of us that never caught the connections between a lesson and application is there hope?

Anna Thompson

Why can't I math? Is there a link between struggling with reading/grammar and math? I feel like math is a language I could never decode

Meg C

Why can’t we divide by it?

CoffeeLeaf90

Why is math so cripplingly hard for some people? Other than practicing are there ways to make it less painful?

Anna Thompson

Imaginary numbers sound made up. Why aren't they?

Jennifer Lemon

Is there a real world corollary to imaginary numbers?

Beau Jarvis

Are there a lot more math formulas and rules to be discovered, or have we already already reached the human race’s peak intelligence?

Lizzie

Why do I have to say numbers aloud to make them make sense in my brain?

Gertlebob

WHAT IS A LOGARITHM? HELP?

Alina DeVoogd

This may be for a neuroscientist but I feel like doing math tickles and strengthens a little part of my brain but what part? And how can learning math help us in other areas because I definitely feel like it helps me in other areas than just math but I might by gaslighting myself. also when did math get so complicated like when was differential calculus invented?

Ikrah Pradhan

I’m a victim of Childhood Math Phobia and just read (and loved) Mathematics for Human Flourishing. How can I rekindle a love for learning math as an adult?

Megan Duffy

How far has someone gotten in counting out pi on paper or white board? Since it’s infinite. Also, is there a computer just always counting?

BeckytheSassySeagrassScientist

Why do average people need to learn math? We do in fact, always have a calculator in our pocket at all times! That's right, I said it!

Ikrah Pradhan

Yes! This too! I can’t seem to grasp the idea of even with analogies like the Infinite Hotel!

Kayla

Is there a psychological or neurological reason that some people cannot grasp math? (Me)

beccaand

First time question asker (or not yet read on the pod asker): what's your favourite general audience maths based non-fiction book? What's your favourite mathematical theory or concept etc. that you've seen in action in real life?

Christian Krupp

Do we have an idea what the next big math breakthrough will be that folks are working on? How important does a number/ratio have to be to get its own designation (pi, e, etc)? What do you consider the most difficult/highest level of math?

Kayla

Why do I have to count on my fingers as a 27 year old

Josh Frye

What is your favorite statistical distribution? (I use this at parties as an ice breaker - mine is the Weibull distribution!)

Jack Sparks

If you could change anything about how math is taught, what would you change?

Emily Staw-fur

Philosophical question: was math discovered or invented?

Vanessa Frey

Once I "got it" I actually...enjoyed calculus. But it has been a couple decades since my AP calc days...any resources I can check out for a refresher, other than pouring over old textbooks?

Chris Whitman

I’m on the board of a middle/high school. During the pandemic we noticed a trend in math test scores. Pre-pandemic, girls tested lower than boys by a double digit amount (in standardized tests). During the pandemic and virtual learning, this metric reversed and girls tested better then boys by double digits! How/why? Is it the social experience of learning math?

James Nance

Yes!!!! Applied Math PHD here. What is your response to people who say "I don't need math?"

Amy Narimatsu

Why am I better at certain types of math? I'm great at Algebra and statistics but geometry and trigonometry were really hard for me. I was also horrible at math until midway through highschool but then something just clicked. Why do some people "get" math at a later age than others?

Kieran C.

FTQA (I think?): Is there a field (not just "science" but like.. any area) that people might be surprised to realize that there's a lot of Math happening behind the scenes?

Doug Paice

There is nothing bigger than Infinity, but some infinities are bigger than others. How about: what are the different types of infinity? How does that work?

Jordan Sabolish

I have so many questions! I’ll streamline them lol. How can abstract mathematics translate into real world applications? I’m thinking about thinks like hypercomplex numbers, the Collatz conjecture, or infinite dimensional Hilbert Spaces

Spicy Native

First time question asker: as someone who has chronically struggled with math, I have a huge fear of even just approaching math on a daily basis. My dream is to go back to school and get a B.S. in ecology, evolution, and conservation. Any tips/helpful advice on approaching pre calc/calc as someone who just isn't good at math?

Erin Maurelli

Why do numbers make my head hurt?

Maggie Morgan

First time question asker!!! Is ZERO a number???

Maddie S.

How can some infinities be bigger than other infinites?

ariel.vanzandt

I've always been great at math but imaginary numbers always threw me off. Can you explain wtf they are?

Erin Gunderson

What facts are there to support or refute the link "people" talk about around the water cooler between learning to play music in childhood and math proficiency being correlated?!?

Doug Paice

An infinite number of questions on infinity

Emily Staw-fur

So I'm a total math nerd and sometimes I love throwing random math facts at my husband to blow his mind. But one of the things I've never been able to convince him of is that there are different infinities. He insists infinity is just infinity, so how do I explain it in a way that doesn't get bogged down with calculus?

Andie Townsend

First time question asker here…. Why am I so attached to multiples of three?

Adam Foote

Is math done in a specific area of the brain? My fiancee has cerebral palsy and literally can't do much math and my hypothesis is that the brain damage is localized near some mathematics processing center

Amanda Smith

How does she feel about what level of mathematics should be required for all high school/secondary students to graduate? Are we teaching too much math too fast (or too early) to adolescents who aren’t ready for it from a neurodevelopment perspective? (Signed, someone who loves teaching high school calculus but also has encountered far too many kids struggling to pass Algebra 2 just trying to graduate)

Erin Maurelli

Please explain how Art and Math are actually the same things.

Mike Robertson

First time questioner, and on my favorite subject! Has the math community considerned remaining the Pythagorean Theorem since we have found that non-white mathematicians have proven this earlier e.g. Baudhayan and Gougu)?

Kaffeine

Why does ancient Egyptian addition work?

Paul Smith

My high school roommate is getting a PhD in research mathematics - what does that MEAN? WHAT NEW MATH IS THERE?

Alie Ward

Anyone else have the thing where numbers have colors/personalities? This may shoot me off into a full synesthesia episode... and if you're wondering, 8 is a quiet orange male. 2 is red, and a bitch.

Amanda Smith

College Board posts review videos on YouTube every spring for AP Calc AB and BC; they’re probably still up from this spring! Also: PatrickJMT on YouTube is my absolute favorite. He chooses problems that have clear solutions and explains them well. Khan Academy exercises are okay. Paul’s Online Math Notes are solid too.

Andy Guarnaccia

What exactly is theoretical math? What does it study??

Kristina Kunze

Calculus and physics go hand in hand in, but also destroying my brain. What came first? Imaginary numbers, wtf? Who established the order of operations PEMDAS? Applying math to space, what information is needed and what answers specifically do your solutions lead to?

Xan Sonn

What do I take for granted as fundamental/"just the way it is" that is actually the result of a definitional choice that will blow my mind the most?

Jacintha Jaa

Why is math easier for some and so many of us struggle with math? Is it the way math is taught in the US? Is ease in math inherent? Is the issue really a left brain vs. right brain dominance? Is it, as my father made me believe as a child that good math skills come with a Y chromosome? Why do I suck at math? Thanks so much

Keely Chavez

In high school I was fairly good at geometry (shapes!) vs algebra torture. However, in college, I had the same professor for algebra I had for geometry in high school and excelled! How much of math education is the educator and how much is the student?

Doug Paice

Prime numbers! Is there a pattern? Why is it so hard to factor large numbers (into primes)?

Avren Keating

Seconded, as a 33 year old who also has to count on their fingers

Eleonoora

What is an imaginary number and WHY does it exist??

Rachael Gardner

I have a smologite who is a toddler. How can I help her enjoy math and approach it with excitement rather than fear? (This was not well done in my childhood home!)

Courtney Carey

how does math even WORK, who even decided how numbers worked or where they even came from

Amy Gibson

**After listening to the dark matter episode, I can't help but still wonder what is "theoretical" math when what we learn in school has such strict rules!

Between Dumplings

Is it better for girls now? When I was in 8th grade my teacher was someone who had been teaching the same class for decades and had only one way to explain anything. I asked for help in a number of ways but he could not veer from his script to help me cross the divide. Then all I heard was "It's okay, girls are just not good at math." I was pretty sure I didn't have to be bad at it, but this just made my life hell. I now think I actually have a good awareness of patterns and loved geometry but I just hope it's better for girls now. Also a young friend tried to show me how "new math" works and THAT was just 🍌 🍌 🍌.

Megan Lynch

Why does our society equate lack of high achievement in math with "stupidity" more than a lack of high achievement in language arts or history? Is it merely because mathematics are usually a component in things people like to monetize like weapons development?

Larn Arn

I don’t get math + space/time/astronomy etc — like, how does solving a math problem tell me that black holes exist? I almost can’t even articulate my question because I’m so confused. Maybe I’m asking: how does math explain the universe?!

phinn markson

first of all my great-grandmother, grandmother, and aunt are all Eugenia. This just caused much confusion in talking about my family with a third party. We were talking about different people the whole time. Sigh. Anyway. ...I was recently diagnosed with acalculia from two brain injuries a while back. There isn't much aside from a Wikipedia page on this (no offense to Wiki)- Can you tell me anything more about this?

Jada Lynn

Is there a correlation between people who read music and people who are good at math? I swear half the people in my university calculus courses (myself included) played at least one instrument. Has there been studies on this? (FTQA)

Madeline DLC

Perhaps this is just me, but when I'm crunching some numbers at work I sometimes pretend I'm doing circus acrobat tricks 😅. It's unusual but it helps my brain work out math problems. Anyone else have mental imagrey coping strategies with math?

Jo Alexander

What tips does she have for those of us with dyscalculia (math learning disability that interferes with a variety of mathy issues like time-telling and map-reading and actually learning how to do math, etc.)?

Lily H

Why can't we divide by zero? What's math hiding?

Kari rhymes with safari

I started HATING math when I got held in from recess in 2nd grade. I barely passed math for morons in order to meet the logic requirement in college. And I still hate it and I can't do even basic calculations which is humiliating at work. What's a old person to do to get over it. Or can I just pretend my FOM (fear of math) isn't there, rotting in the corner stinking while I try to calculate averages or figure out a 20% tip in my head? (please say it doesn't matter...)

emily burns

Please talk about the two high school girls who recently proved the Pythagorean Theorem without using the Pythagorean Theorem!!!!

Elta Sparks

Any recommendations for teaching number sense to very young students? Or anything teachers do that you absolutely should NOT do to help people understand math?

Doug Koekkoek

Imaginary numbers define how electric and magnetic fields interact.

Kristen Rosenblum

From my math major partner “How do godel’s incompleteness theorems affect the way people think about math?”

Julie-Anne

FTQA! What’s the line between math and symbolic logic? Is symbolic logic math? Does that make math philosophy or a science? WHAT?

Nathan-Andrew

I think I probably have dyscalculia. But I can’t even pronounce it to be able to ask about it. Is there a way to test for… that thing I can’t say?

Greg Walloch

I first read this and thought, 'No I don't have that', but then thought 8 is definitely orange for sure!

Olivier Calas

Just want to say that I’ve always had a thing for the AFTERmath…;-) Get better Allie, we need you badly!

Alexandria Bates

Can we get a hot take on the order of operations??

Mushroom Morgan

I was pretty good at math until I got to ordinary differential equations in college, where suddenly nothing made sense anymore. How do we come up with math that is so theoretical??? Is there not an easier way to do that kind of stuff??

Doug Koekkoek

First time question asker (I think). I always tell my kids that Math is the most important thing in the world because math tells us how the world works. Can you give a better reason for why my statement is true? And Alie, get better!!! Don’t fool around with pneumonia, it can get really bad, really fast. Take care of yourself.

Greg Walloch

Why do so many folks who excel in humanities and language suck at math? Also, how come it's easier to balance a cash register than do math in your head?

Mushroom Morgan

Also, I'm a teacher, any tips for helping kids understand fractions and decimals?

Pseudonym Jones IV

Is math actually real? I mean, reeeeally real, as opposed to a convenient language or metaphysical construct or some such?

Abby and Tyler Haro

First time question asker! What historical contribution and/or contributor to mathematics does she think deserves more attention or just general awareness?

Renaud Banville

Imaginary numbers... how does that work?

Jo Alexander

Then I read more about it, and dyscalculia resembles me! Other than that, I didn’t look into a more official test.

Chris Moore

If you could change one thing about math education, what would it be and why?

Sylvia Scharf

Why is it that people who otherwise present themselves as learned and educated (ie people for whom their academic or intellectual prowess is part of their identity) seem to be 100% fine saying, "oh, I just don't do math or science."?

Peter Jardine

Hey, love the show! Hope you feel better soon Ali! I failed grade 10 math and hated it, so I totally understand the dislike of math. I'm now a civil engineer and found that in higher level math, different people can use it like a language almost; expressing the same thing with a different formula. Does Dr. Cheng find this true and has it ever lead to funny moments or confusion? What math do other cultures use that we are missing out on. Apparently there is vedic math that makes multiplication easier!? Also, what is the most applicable and least applicable (to the real world) math/formula she is aware of? What does she think of Aleph numbers and how do they work? Thanks from your Canadian friend, Pete

Sylvia Scharf

Also I'd love some stuff on the new ways that math is being taught to young kids. I am LOVING the numeracy that my kid is getting in early elementary and from TV shows like the NumberBlocks - so much better than the rote and drill of my childhood!

Dean Deters

FTQA...is New Math really new?

Paul Hoffman

If you could start over and define the different infinities yourself, what names would you choose?

Lauren Seibert

What in the world is with proofs in math?? I never understood them or limits

Will Clark

Are different forms of math processed in different parts of the brain?

David Villafranco

Did we invent math or discover it, and is God basically math since everything runs on it?

Jenna Congdon

WHY THE HECK does the way math taught in schools change every few years and wwwhhhyyyy do teachers insist there is only one right way to do it? I grew up thinking I was bad at math but as an adult I realize I'm actually pretty decent at understanding numbers. I just approach it differently and therefore was told I was wrong. Isn't the beauty of math that it is always static? (Like 2+2 will always be 4)

Wandering Wyatt

Imaginary numbers. Why. Please explain. Thank you.

ScienceInTheArt

So many biological structures appear to obey the Fibonacci series, or other fractal relationships. Why??

Don Elliot

I majored in Math in college and really only got my teeth into things when we got to prob/stats and physics and found out what all the numbers games were for and how it is applied. I loved doing the proofs and methods, but it was more techniques than why for? How do you keep the “what is it for?” part involved when teaching?

Jenna Congdon

The reminds me of the book The Humans by Matt Haig. Basically an alien comes to earth and has to try to fit in. Where the alien is from, their "religion" is math and they hold different shapes and numbers in high esteem. It's quite a touching and sweet book, too.

Kate Tildes

Why IS math anyway? I personally loathe it. I have aphantasia and can't do math (much more than basics) in my head which is infuriating.

Leanna Shuster

I'd like to know if she is familiar with the concept discussed by Steve Levitt and Steven Strogatz that math education in American public schools should include a course on "math appreciation" and what her opinion is of this educational initiative?

Amber McIntyre

As a girl growing up, math wasn’t necessarily encouraged and although I was in excelled maths classes, my teachers encouraged and praised my efforts more in the “arts”. What can we do to empower women in mathematics and discourage the idea that girls can’t math?

Sarah

Why imaginary numbers???

Tishangela Nierman

I teach mats to middle school students, and that always want to know where it came from. Math is beautiful.

Sylvia Scharf

From my math tutor wife Jane: How do we strike the balance between things we think we need to teach students bc we always have, and the things we actually need people to understand (even if a computer will be doing the arithmetic/algebra 99% of the time)?

Sylvia Scharf

NumberBlocks on YouTube. Like, for real.

Sylvia Scharf

OMG this and also why the race to calculus when statistics is much more useful in day-to-day life?

The Other Maya

SAME. This question why please (I'm pretty sure the answer is "the patriarchy" but I'd like to hear that/ not that from a learn-ed person.) Also how to fix pls. Asking for a friend. (Not a friend it's me, hi)

Padraic Malinowski

Please ask Dr Cheng for some talking points I (a math major and actuary) can use to explain to skeptical relatives why teaching the common core math techniques is a good thing.

Nicole Kleinman

Why does the education system require so many math classes? Is this actually beneficial?

Libby Hagedon

What’s the big deal with dividing by zero?

Padraic Malinowski

Excuse me... 8 is a snowman.... always has been 😂

The Other Maya

I'm going to get some boos for this, g'head and boo: math literally changed my internalized understanding of the world. (Booooooo, math should be useful, it's not philosophy, or a language of logic, booooooo) I had to take calc one 3 times in community college because I started in my late 20s and there literally wasn't a place for it in my brain, yet. And I'm really glad I struggled through. I want that for more people. Without that struggle, and delayed learning. How do we do that and please go off on the public education system. Thank you.

the ren you know

Any advice for someone with "math anxiety"? If I hear, "what's 5 + 8?" my brain shuts down. I've accepted that I'll always count with my fingers, but how can I be less afraid of numbers?? 😱

Val McKelvey

What is an imaginary number? Also, why?

Felix Lasselle

What's a good way to get kids/teens (heck even adults) more interested in math as a hobby? People are interested in biology as a hobby (birders, rock lovers, etc) can we do the same thing with math?

Phylicia Chandler

Imaginary numbers!?!?! Please explain Can you also talk about the Fibonacci sequence and why we see it so much in nature? Are mathematicians still discover new aspects of math or inventing new math to solve problems?

Val McKelvey

Are there types of math taught in schools that AREN'T useful?

Cyntia B

If we like math and would like to keep doing math, any suggestion on a resource?

Cyntia B

What is the coolest discovery in math in the last year or so?

Val McKelvey

that makes my heart sad. Thank you for asking this.

Matt Ceccato

Do you have a favorite postulate?

Kristen Fuller

Does E REALLY equal MC squared (I'm really bad at thinking of questions prior to the episode. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I'm more of a mid-episode questionnaire.)

Erin Unson

How do they decide on what letters/symbols represent a specific number? Is there a secret math Illuminati? I’m thinking of pi and e

Theresa Egan

Why are certain types of math easier for certain people? I was great at geometry and precalc but terrible at algebra 2 and actual calculus (except for derivatives)

Troy R

What types of problems do you enjoy solving recreationally?

Gretchen Schroeder

Person with dyscalculia here. I'm excellent at logic but manipulating numbers just staggers my brain. My father taught me to use an abacus ( pre calculator days) Is there any evidence that different number calculation systems are more dyscalculia friendly? (Dyscalculia a dyslexia related disability that impacts numeracy and the ability to calculate)

Victoria Sauter

I am so excited you are talking to Eugenia Cheng (I have a huge math crush on her, I have two of her books...)! As a teacher, I would also love to know where you think the best in-roads to puzzling are. I believe math is for everybody but it's hard to convince them of that. I try to make clear that math isn't an isolated subject and we use it to understand all parts of the world, but especially in middle grades using it in a way that's accessible tends to feel like just collecting counting for tables. Suggestions to bring math to the living room, so to speak, that is a little juicier?

Cassandra Fallaw

My dad says that when we do math in school it doesn't matter if you won't use the math in the future and that its more for developing problem solving skills. Whats your take on this? Is math just inherently problem solving?

Victoria Sauter

Also, everybody knows to read to their kids and with their kids when they're small but I wondered if you knew of or have ideas for how families can "do math together" daily? Even suggesting the grocery store math with parents sometimes they'll tell me they don't know how to talk about budget, unit price because they "aren't math people"

The Other Maya

Pete! I have a very similar story, but I'm Mechanical 😁 glad to know it's not just the US (maybe? That's a complicated feeling - frustrated at the world and also there's kinship at the same time)

TJ Mckenna

What’s the deal with expressing words as math? Isn’t there a book that someone wrote entirely using mathematical equations?

The Other Maya

Colors, general movement like water or shapes that change. Also sometimes I can hear it.

Annmarie Everhart

What's the coolest "used textbook math in my everyday life and didn't expect it" story you've heard?

The Other Maya

You're fine the way you are. Also I use a calculator all the time. All. The. Time. I don't think that doing arithmetic in your head is required honestly ever. Pull out your phone calculator and say "(price of pizza) x 1.2" and there's yer answer 💖 thanks, phone!

Karen Tam

FTQA! Taking AP Statistics and learning about answer biases has made me forever distrust any percentages or stats I hear about. Did learning a math concept ever change the way you view life fundamentally? Also, are there any stats we can trust?! [anguished face]

Jacquie Krause

Dyscalculia! Tell me all the tips, tricks, treatments, whatever you can think of! I have it and so does my son. I’ve managed but it was a struggle and I hate seeing my son struggle.

Michael Swords

I hated math, and never felt like I was good at it. Turns out, all I needed to do was make calculus/physics my part time job in college, and I did incredibly well by my previous standards. Now, I know I can do it! However - what's the best way to teach math in your opinion? Does it vary by field; like would you teach Calculus different from Stats, different from Physics, different from Geometry, for example? (Okay I know Geometry is used in both Calc and Physics, but not everyone takes those courses so it seemed relevant)

Grace Vincent

What is dyscalculia?? Why can’t my brain process numbers like other people? What tips do you have for living with it? 👀 is counting on your fingers really that frowned upon?

Valerie Bertha

Why is math the “universal” language?

The Other Maya

My heart is also sad and I'm 100% sure that's a sign your teacher was both a bad teacher and himself not good at math. If you're good you can be flexible and learn from other people's questions. Fact

The Other Maya

Don't let the haters shade you. If there was a spelling equivalent to finger counting I'd freaking youse that shite

Devon Naples

Please explain infinity in a way that my brain can reeaalllyy comprehend. Thank you! (First time question asker love you Alie get better soon saxaphone emoji)

Blessed are the cheesemakers

Math professor here (and FTQA). Do you have any advice for college professors (or any teachers generally) who want to improve their teaching?

Between Dumplings

@Val @Maya thanks for the compassion! I'm not sad, he was limited in his way of teaching and I knew it even then at what, 13 or 14? Luckily, I loved words and became a lawyer many jobs ago. I just hope girls today are not limited by sexist fuckery.

Sarah Voll

This was my answer in my head verbatim. Number Blocks is absolutely amazing. My preschooler is doing 1st grade math pretty much exclusively from watching number blocks

Kieran H

Is math a skill that you lose if you don’t practice it? I used to be in advanced math in high school and now I can barely add without a calculator. Then again, I could barely add back then too and also hated math!

Between Dumplings

I'm 61 and when I'm adding a tip I still manually carry the 1...my Chinese friends chuckle almost imperceptibly. Almost.

Camille Krouse

Why is math SO HARD for me to understand? Also, why was geometry the only type of math I understood?

Sarah Voll

Yes, but only because I watch Number Blocks with my preschooler because it’s the best math teacher I’ve ever had. Big personalities, very colorful

Between Dumplings

When will the US change to metric? It's never gonna, right? The answer is never?

Average_pi

Why does dividing the top of a fraction by the bottom equal a decimal? I never understood that. Why/how does algebra WORK? How did people even figure out math for that ?

The Other Maya

Numbers themselves don't have colors for me but what they do does. Also shapes that change and general motion, sometimes also sound. Equations of motion definitely have sound, and heat transfer definitely is color changing shapes that flow. Equations of flow literally flow like a vector field or waves. It depends on what I'm doing. I commented on another question about imagining acrobatics and that really strikes a chord. Am I reading back through questions because I LOVE and am fascinated by them? Yes. Obsessed. Also, seriously, don't fuck with pneumonia, lady. Lie down. Get some soup. But one at a time, and slowly. 45 heart emoji and "get well soon" followed by a gif of sparkly flowers with butterflies. But let's please do synesthesia, also. Not today because you need to lie down. Or soup. But not at the same time, and also slowly. PS also the thing that I have so hard is physical colors (wavelengths of light in the world that my eyes see) totally get crossed up with other senses, all of them - taste, smell, sound, a lot of the time I can feel them in my body, too. Also I see/feel music and general sound. I forget this isn't "normal" because it's literally my brain all the time, so for me it's "default". I love love love sensory deprivation tanks 🫠 thank you for Delphinology. A lot.

gg

One day I had to put together a demo during Clinton's first year. In one window random shapes like triangles and rectangles, fills, changing every 3 seconds. A window of video. A window of radar. A window of lights and buttons that are connected to an external device. The demo is within 10 miles of the beltway. Since I didn't want to task the graphics window to eat up the CPU I just went forward, turn a random direction... close. But the critics were looking for equilateral triangles, eg. So I used circumscribe a figure inside a circle which I last used in tenth grade geometry constructions. You never know when you can use math.

Blessed are the cheesemakers

Do you have any advice for mathematicians or scientists who want to get more active in mathematical outreach and math/science communication?

Rose Moon

What is the philosophy of math? I've heard smart people talk about it and...like... Huh? (first time question asker)

Mary Wulzen

Why do we study calculus in highschool instead of other more accessible branches of math like statistics or set theory? (FTQA)

Zathrynn

Do you know any of the psychology that goes into what makes someone more/less likely to enjoy math?

The Other Maya

Dad-Ward: IDK if you're already hip to the gig - Euler is pronounced "Oy-lur" as in "oil slick", not "Eew-lur" as in "Faris Bulers's day off". If you are wondering how to read it 😄

Potato Puffer

I have dyscalculia. Is there any hope for me?

Scott Hanley

Why do the Brits use math w/s: maths? Isn’t math a mass noun? Algebra, geometry, trigonometry, are parts of math.

Leah Anderson

Just to say, I hope you're feeling better, Alie. xoxo I am part of the tiny percentage of a percentage of people whose math capabilities tested more than 50% lower than my language abilities (did this as part of the testing that diagnosed me with ADHD). Needless to say, I hated math until I trained to become an elementary school teacher--then I lucked out with the best instructor in the world who used curiosity--and language--as a guide. So even if I got lots of math problems wrong, I got to talk with my colleagues about how they got their answers and how I got mine and the social aspect of problem solving was so engaging that, even if I am still woefully poor at math, I do NOT hate it any more. I think helping students develop the ability to communicate through and about math is one of the reasons for the common core practices--teaching multiple approaches to solve a problem. Does this need predominate in higher levels of math as well? Does the social aspect of communicating apply, or are math professionals solving problems all alone and in their heads?

Beto Gomez

Are number values consistent across societies and different time periods or are there variances on how numbers have been quantified throughout history and across different regions?

Terena

Me too. I was diagnosed a few years ago which helped me understand that I’m not stupid but makes me sad that as much as I love science, I’ll never be a scientist

Sharika Elahi

What do mathematicians mean when they describe a calculation as "elegant"? How can math be elegant? I do not compute

Terena

I hear that math is the language of the universe but how exactly? What does it mean? Feel better Alie! Sorry that you’re so sick.

Nathalie Jones

Why are American math curriculums pointing students towards calc (classes like pre-calc being a requirement for example) despite most people never actually taking calculus. When I finally took calc 1 in college, my whole math curriculum from middle school on finally made sense!! Yet so many people never have that realization!

Magdalena Castillo

How does homomorphic encryption work and why isn’t it more widely used for data privacy?

Magdalena Castillo

I have to take Discrete Math next semester but I have no idea what that even is, can you please explain? Are some people genetically capable of doing math better than others?

Heather Livingston

Is math a method for describing reality, or is reality formed along a pre-existing mathematical structure?

Heather Livingston

If prime numbers were not an infinite set, would everything just fold in on itself and disappear?

Jacob Brandon

My favourite thing about maths is hat is know to be a universal language. How did math become such a universal concept? Did that happen all at the same time? Is it easier to communicate through maths and it's application?

Heather Livingston

What is your favorite type of math to do? Least favorite? Do these feel so different, like they’re almost different species? Can you talk about math being used to describe music, weaving, traffic, language, brain waves?

Talia Dunyak

Why isnt there a biggest number?

Euan Munro

What type of math is really useful but most people don't know how to use it, or even just the name of it?

Heather Livingston

I’m interested in this - i loved algebra but really struggled with real analysis and anything to do with limits.

Jacquie Krause

Don’t say that! I have dyscalculia and I am a molecular biologist! It can be done!

Claire Nurc

Why is there only one math in the US but lots of maths in the UK and other English speaking countries? 😅 Anyway, I love maths and am trying to help my two children to also love maths, what are good tips to teach children maths apart from crying "why don't you understand this?" at them after writing out a sum 😭

Heather Livingston

What makes a proof elegant - and what are some good examples?

Christopher Anderson

Are there things you'd change about how math is taught in primary and secondary schools?

Kathy Clark

FTQA! So many people say they're "not good in math". Or "I can't do math." Or "I'll never use it, why do I have to learn it?" But in practice, we end up using it without realizing it. For example, creating a garment by knitting or crochet - that can fit you - requires measurements and algebra (how far around you does the fabric need to go, plus a little for ease so you can bend and move, multiply by how many stitches per inch you're get = how many stitches you need to start). Calculating latitude & longitude, estimations, basic costs, etc. How do we make math education and teaching show students that math is everywhere, and the basics of it actually have everyday applications?

beeeeen

favourite type of maths? meaning geometry, fractions etc..

Cobalt Finch

I LOVE math! I am a Cadastral Drafting Technician, or a Mapper as everyone in the office calls it, and I get to use trig and calculus every now and then at work when I'm drawing parcels. I find that math feels a lot like a puzzle to solve, and I love good patterns like the Recamán or Fibonacci sequences. Does Dr. Cheng have a favorite pattern?

Anne

Yes!! It’s me, I’m folks who excel in language that suck at maths!! It caused me a lot of grief in high school, because even with a kind and great maths teacher I still couldn’t get even a slightly passing grade. I’m ok at the basics that I can visualise but anything beyond that is just… magic.

Naomi Jane

I'm certain someone else will have asked this, but it's a very important question so I'll add it to make sure! Why is it "math" in the US, and "maths" in the UK?

Matt Hirschl

In the search for extraterrestrial life, I’ve heard the only language other civilizations would understand is math. How do we know this? And who got to choose what math gets sent on the space probe sent into the cosmos?

Heather Horton Whedon

As a painter, I'm curious as to how Dr. Cheng would describe math as a style of painting? Abstract? Realism? Hyperrealism? Magical Realism? Wood block printmaking? Landscape or Portraiture? Or are these terms not even remotely associated with mathematics in her mind?

Leila Laco

Was maths invented or discovered?

Bill LaBranche

FTQA: Why bother with "Natural numbers" but also "Whole numbers" (just without zero)? and what's your thoughts on imaginary numbers (root -1)... love them? or hate them?

Tracy Culleton

Thaks Alie! Why base 10? Fingers? And above all: if we had a different base, would maths still be as magical with regards to patterns, e.g. if its digits add up to 9, it's divisible by 9.

Tracy Culleton

I'd like to know too. it was root -1 that broke me when it came to maths.

Tracy Culleton

It's 'maths' in Ireland too, and afaik Oz and NZ. it's just cos Americans talk funny. :D

Alena Litin

Do mathematicians have actual epiphanies while scribbling on chalkboards or is that being falsely portrayed in the movies?

Marita

ufff this is so exciting!!!! I would love for you to talk about math as a method(/tool vs. math as a science in its own regard. Love to hear her opinion on this!

Naomi Jane

🤭 hehe. Reminds me of the Eddie Izzard sketch "Sure America, you can borrow the English language, but if you ruin it you won't get your deposit back!"

Jean Pompeo

Why is the Russian method for teaching math apparently so successful? What do they do differently and why does it work so well? Does the current US school system math schedule make much sense regarding the age of the students? Or could we be learning much more advanced maths at an earlier age?

Donald Merritt

* Wasn't great at math, but on the way to my astronomy degree I took a class in fourier transforms. And it was in that class that I began to see the beauty in mathematics, rather than just seeing it as a tool. Did she ever have an experience like that, where it became more than just useful or impressive, but actually beautiful?

Amy Johnson

Any apps/books/resources recommended for adults looking to practice math that they took long ago and forgot?

Helen Langille

I used to be able to do complex multivariable calculus in university - now I can barely remember the symbols - what's up with that?

Kayla Tozier

Why is it that some people are trig lovers and some are calculus lovers, but they never intertwine? (from a calculus-lover, trig-hater)

Moss

What's your favourite mental math trick? I.E. simple math or perhaps converting units

Mariah Ramsey

FTQA: Why are proofs a thing? Whyyyyyy? :(

Brenna Pixley

Did Indigenous Americans Invent the concept of Zero?

San Juan Josie

My son had math aptitude but disliked it intensely. Now he’s a professional musician. Isn’t a big part of music the math required to make it? (I’m thinking acoustic music, obviously tech affects now).

Allan Wolfe

Why do Brits refer to “maths” rather than just math? Thanks

samm

who decided that the numbers would be numbers?

ConnieConnieBoBonnie

I was always good at math and use math everyday as a cfo/fancy bookkeeper. I was never drawn to calculus, but love data, statistics, and spreadsheets. Am I missing out on fun math by avoiding “higher” math? How would I even get into learning more as a 40 year old working mom?!

kenn lippert

(1st time asker) Can you imagine a system of mathematics that is based on something irrational (to our system?) like pi, e, or the golden ratio, rather than the natural numbers? Because it seems to me that any system that starts with the natural numbers (regardless of the base) is going to end up looking more or less the same, pi will still be irrational, rules of arithmetic will still work, etc. Are there other ways to build a system of mathematics? Can we imagine a civilization (of aliens even) that starts with something other than the natural numbers? Could you make a system that is useful for engineering/technical progress with such a system? I guess set theory is sort of that kind of non-integer based system, but you can't design a moon lander just with set theory. Thank you so much. Alie: LOVE THE POSCAST. You are the best! You are an absolute delight to the mind, the heart, and the funny bone. (Oh, and get well soon).

DOUGLAS R EICH

Yes! Why are math skills SO perishable? I went from tutoring stats to barely remembering it within 2 years.

taylor

As a physics educator, I often see students with big gaps in their math knowledge—algebra, graphing, simple math, you name it. Any suggestions on books/websites/teaching strategies to help high school students get caught up in math?

Spencer Parks

As an almost 43 year old, should I take adult classes in calculus? Will it be useful to me at all? I'm intrigued, but scared.

Quincey Robisheaux

why was learning calculus easier than learning geometry

Samuel Pate

Why does negative times negative = positive? I’ve never been able to understand this phenomenon.

Emilie Shely

Why are you either an algebra, or geometry person. Love one, loathe the other. Why can't it be both?

Emory Blair

I was coming to ask this question specifically! I feel like people are generally *Algebra and Stats*or *Geometry and Trig* but never both!

BadWolf1701

How has the origins of Math back in Mesopotamia been fundamental to the math we use now? Has it changed dramatically or are the bases still the same.

BolognaShoes

Your brain works SO DIFFERENTLY than mine.... I LOVED geometry but failed calculus twice.

David

Why is Common Core math so different from math instruction a generation or two ago? Is Common Core better, and if so, why?

David

How far back can we trace mathematics in human artifacts?

David

What purposes does math instruction serve? Which of those might be better served by other subjects?

David

How can we better serve both advanced and lagging students at every level of math instruction, without dramatically increased instruction costs? E.g. individual and small group tutoring is highly effective in studies, but requires dramatically higher staffing.

Ben Cheatham

I have a decent grasp on basic arithmetic/algebra, but how do I go about learning more advanced topics like calculus or geometry as an adult?

Lexa

Lots of people have asked but I’ll throw my tick mark on the tally: 1) dyscalculia and the difficulty braining calculations, written music, dance choreography and etc. I have it but only found a name in my 40s. Aka why is it I can understand the concepts of calculus and a Punit’s square (sp?) but I can sum a column with a calculator three times and get a different answer every time? 2) bias and teaching math: sexism and lack of understanding of ways of learning or learning disabilities. (I have heard that auditory-visual-kinesthetic differences aren’t a useful model, but there are different ways of getting the ideas to stick)

Lexa

Different question: was the people Malcolm Gladwell citing flim-flam that people using sinographic language like Chinese or Japanese where numbers are represented differently actually have a heads up in learning math, or does the difference fall away as soon as one is out of the 3rd grade? Eg Children, what is four plus twelve? Children? What is 4 + 12? 子供、四➕十二はなんですか？

Lexa

Difference being, in English we have “named” our numbers. Technically in Japanese they did too but they also use Chinese characters.

Noël Ingram

I was talking to a Lyft driver the other day from Morocco, and he was telling me that in the West we "think about math differently" than they do in the East. This surprised me because I've always thought of math as the most "objective" (as much as anything can be) of the disciplines, but our conversation made me wonder-- are there cultural differences in the way that we think about or "do" math?

Trevor Hagedorn

Is there a relatively simple way to explain the complex mathematics that describe black holes and quantum mechanics?

DOUGLAS R EICH

A lot of people I know lost their interest in math when they reached Real Analysis. Why is that material such a gatekeeper for those interested in math?

Darren Bush

I was pretty okay with math, but I was very good at statistics (still am). In retrospect I think it was because stats is about shapes in my brain, numbers and relationships aren't. How can we make math more about shapes so visual people can understand better?

Julia Vollmer

Asking on behalf of my fiancée, Dylan, who is a math teacher and total math nerd. Is there any scientific research or basis behind the idea of "math people" and "non-math people?" If not, are there any strategies you have found to be successful in showing people that this is not true?

Darren Bush

Sexism in math? Like the talking Barbie saying "Math class is hard." My wife taught 8th grade math and algebra for 20 years, and said her only goal was to get young girls to be interested enough to take the next year's class. Also she was one of the few female math teachers in our very large district.

Silly Little Bard

How much of being “bad” at math is because of how it’s taught/learned in US schools vs psychology/anxiety vs some people just aren’t “wired” for it? I realize this is probably very subjective and individual, but I’d love to hear more. For me, I think it was anxiety? I studied music theory in college and did very well (not to brag) and enjoyed it, but I really struggled with math all through high school. But the common refrain in music school is that people who are good at math are generally good at music theory and vice versa. And on that note (pun not intended), are there any crossovers with math and other fields (like the arts) that are interesting or people might not know about?

Lexa

Care to explain the question mark after “sexism in math?” or shall we wait for the expert to talk about it?

Nancy Brown

I know we operate on a Base 10 system, but don't understand how it translates to say, a Base 8 system, or why I'd care. This comment is a result of an anxiety producing memory of calling my Grandaddy "long distance" in 1961 to ask for help. He was a county treasurer in Virginia and I thought he knew numbers - despite my weeping plea...he was unable to help :-( . Also, my Dad used to drill me on arithmetic during the weekly ride to my grandmother's house. I KNEW 2+3 = 5...but couldn't, for the life of mee, remember 3+2. It remains a family joke.

Sarah Meaden

I'm wading through the middle school math assignments with my 7th grader and it seems like the things they're learning now are the things I learned in high school. This may fall under a different -ology, but am I just projecting my math anxiety onto them? Or are they trying to teach my kid more and faster when it comes to math?

Phoebe Teskey

I desperately want to be a conservation biologist, however, I am not great at math and a Bachelor's of Science degree requires some higher level math. How important are these courses ACTUALLY in the field and if I limp my way through them, will I then be in trouble once I start doing research? Basically I'm asking if Calc 1 and 2, Physics and Chemistry are actually used a lot in the conservation fields.

Haley K.

“Math” or “Maths”?

Dane Camacho

if you had to relearn all of your math courses starting from High School, would you do anything differently?

Jess Slattery

How would you structure the way that math is taught in grade school to make it more curiosity-based/less frustrating for kids to learn about?

Jess Slattery

What is one math concept that you wish everyone knew but most people don't?

Gabrielle Mlagenovich

As someone in STEM ppl always tell me that they’re so bad at Math. I feel like it’s so common for ppl to just say they’re bad at math and give up. Do you find this is true? What do you tell ppl who insist they are terrible at math?

Max G

I know I’m not the Ologist, but speaking as a teacher, you’re not imagining it; this phenomenon is happening across education unfortunately. With the commodification of test scores and competition for scholarships as college as become less and less affordable, it’s become a manifestation of the way capitalism is always seeking to increase capital gains year over year. And it sucks for the kids, because so many of them are being made to feel inadequate for struggling with something that’s not really for their age group.

Max G

How do you think math education in schools could be made more engaging and less “scary”?

Kara

Is there anything you would change about your experience in higher learning mathematics (grad school/etc. or even undergrad?), specifically re how it was taught?

Jani Rounds

Can math skills be divided into subskills? Asking for a friend (me) who’s awful at arithmetic but actually pretty good at calculus.

Kaffeine

9 is purple and mean and unpleasant to work with, 5 is friendly and blue, 7 is yellow and aloof. 2, 3 and 4 are friends and are all green. 6 is sharp and temperamental and chartreuse. 0 and 1 don’t have color or personality and I really wish I knew why.

Corinna Regan

(this! ^) also, what steps could be taken to help those who become easly frustrated with math problems? (Asking for myself)

Ted Vician

“What power of 10 is this number?” Or more generally, “what power of a base number (2 and 10 are popular choices, as is e) is this number?” log(x)=y means x=10^y

Jeanné Lewis

I'm good at math, but when I try to help kids with common core it makes my head hurt. Is "new math" actually better?

Savannah Jessop

I failed two high school math classes and have since avoided it through college. I have doomed myself. How do math? Why can’t brain do math? How do you feel about the education system specifically, math?

Dan Chatfield

I'd love to hear the Guest's response, but for me, Infinity isn't a number! It's just a (mathematical) concept that allows us to work with sequences of terms that grow without bound. There are actually different kinds/sizes of infinities! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleph_number

Cat Kessler

How can we help combat the culturally accepted disdain for math? This is everywhere from narratives around what makes a "nerd," to people casually waving off "I'm bad at math" in a way they never would about reading, to parents complaining about "new math" in a way that conveys the end of the argument, rather than an opportunity for curiosity. Maybe this is actually a bigger philosophical question about curiosity and learning and the value of knowledge — but I would love Dr. Cheng's thoughts anyway!

Dan Chatfield

(aside from those with a clinical diagnosis) I wonder if we all saw the same Sesame Street versions of numbers and that's what color they're "supposed" to be? Other than that, for me, 1 = yellow, 2 = blue, 3 = green, 4 is purple, 5,6,7 are shades of orange up to 8 which is red. 9 is a "greenier" green!?

Dan Chatfield

Yes, Please!!! That 8/2(1+3) problem that's out there drives me nuts! (only the slash is the old-school line with 2 dots). It is my contention that everyone trying to apply "PEMDAS/BEMDAS" is missing the issue of shorthand with multiplication and parentheses. The way I wrote it above seems pretty clear to me that the 2 should distribute and the answer is 1, but if you treat the division first according to "what we all learned in elementary school" (as if it were 8 * 1/2), then it comes up 16. Sorry for the rant. :-)

Dan Chatfield

I studied Math history and I love this question! Here's a quick insight from Wikipedia: "Sexagesimal, also known as base 60 or sexagenary,[1] is a numeral system with sixty as its base. It originated with the ancient Sumerians in the 3rd millennium BC, was passed down to the ancient Babylonians, and is still used—in a modified form—for measuring time, angles, and geographic coordinates." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexagesimal

Petrusia Hontar

Why does BEDMAS exist? (Why do the operations need to be performed in this order)

Hannah Michel

what's the difference between science and math, in terms of certainty? do they both just rest on theories and assumptions, or can one claim to be more objective than the other? is math a science? and if not, why?

Donoiw

"Math" or "Maths"? (Less of a question, more of me wondering if I'm correct): Math and Arithmetic are not the same. Correct? Arithemitc is more what we consider math; just "what's the value of this". Math is the process of building that equation. (i.e. why you divide by x^2 ) Long time luker;first time asker

Milan Ilnyckyj

Can you comment on how math shapes the education system? As a kid I always dreamed of studying science, but when I applied to UBC my grades without math were good enough for a scholarship in an arts program but not in a science program. Likewise, where I ended up for my political science PhD was partly explained by my perfect verbal GRE score but only ~78th percentile math score. What consequences have this sort of math-based streaming had for higher education and society more broadly?

Milan Ilnyckyj

I loved Simon Singh's book on Fermat's Last Theorem and number theory (and his bing bang and cryptography books also treat math very accessibly). Are there similar books that do as well at explaining advanced math to those with limited training?

Sarah Sarah

FTQA: I’m taking math courses in college. My issue is that I can solve problems when I know the general steps/have seen it modeled for me. However, when approaching problems that don’t fit a past mold, I academically eat shit; I’m unable to think “divergently” when solving math problems. How do I become more creative when solving them? Do I need to drill fundamental tools more so that I know they’re available to use instead of when exactly I should use them? -Thanks (help), Sarah.

Evan Howington

How many math(s) is(are) there? The English are always talking about "maths" but us Americans just have one, "math." What do they know that we don't?!?

Amy Goldfine

Why does Common Core math make parents so angry? A teacher friend explained how to actually add numbers in my head by thinking about 10s, and it made so much sense. Why is it such a sticking point with parents?

Amy Goldfine

BEDMAS? I learned PEMDAS. Parenthesis, exponents, multiply, divide, add, subtract.

Amy Goldfine

(Also why do I still know this?)

Petrusia Hontar

B is for Brackets, it is probably a regional difference. I am in Ontario, Canada.

Kpelliss

math....ugh.....solid liberal arts here, after failing at Calc. 3....and really, can music help you conquer math?

You Can Be The Judge

When I learned that Mayan math operated with something other than the base ten system we grew up with it blew my mind. Can math work no matter what base system you use?

Pseudonym Jones IV

Last I heard, it couldn't work with an irrational number base... but who knows how abstruse it's gotten since then...

Ida Barksdale

Math has always come really easy to me (engineer speaking); however, why does math suddenly become so hard when you put a $ before it? Is it using a different part of your brain or something?

Stefanie B

Why is it considered socially acceptable to be bad at math but not bad at reading? When out to dinner, you might hear someone say they have difficulty calculating the tip, but you would never hear someone admit they have difficulty decoding the menu (unless they forgot their reading glasses!).

Stefanie B

Definitely wondering this, too! Long-time math teacher here, and I wonder if we shouldn't just retool our entire secondary curriculum now that we're not in a space race anymore. Is the focus on conic sections really so important for the majority of students who will not pursue math/science careers? Should we be teaching more financial algebra instead? And statistics? I'm tired of getting the question, "When will I ever use this?" when I teach certain mathematical concepts and having my only good response be, "In your next math class."

James Nance

This is called inquiry-based learning and can be very effective! I taught college calculus at a bit for a university that employed this teaching style. Most of the students liked it, but you're never going to please everyone with one teaching style.

Bob B

PEMDAS. Why do people fight over this on FaceBook?

Alice Rubin

So I went to primary school in the mid-late 80s. (ahem, please don't do the math! lol!) Why have they changed how to work out simple math problems since then? What was so bad about the old school methods.

Alice Rubin

Settle the argument: Math versus Maths

Shannon O'Grady

My dad is amazing at math and would explain things to me at they never made sense. Then the “new math” was taught to me in education classes in college and it ALL made sense! What happened between the “old math” and the “new math”

BigHighFive

Was Pythagoras an actual person? Was it a religion? Is it a current religion and how can I join?

beeeeen

this is funny, i suck at maths but when u throw me in front of a cash register im so quick

Renee K.

I am a lab scientist, and doing calculations is an important part of my job. Why do I forget how to do math on a weekly basis? How do I learn how to not forget?

Avyously

FTQA, long time listener. I heard somewhere that statistics doesn’t count (no pun intended :) as math. Is that true? If so, why would this be?

Megan Younce

I LOVE MATH. Omg I'm so excited. How many different areas of the world was it concurrently invented/(discovered?) How did those early people figure it out? Where do we draw the line between math and science (ex: chem and physics have so much math in them, but are under the science umbrella right?)? Does Dr Cheng have a favorite practical use for the quadratic formula? (Also does she know the quad formula song?) Why can my brain memorize numbers but not remember to do daily tasks? :)

Melissa

Why the heck do they make us cry our way through calculus when there's an easier way? I did three years of college calculus and struggled so hard. My son is a physics major and recently told me that THERE'S A SHORTCUT but they don't tell you that until you're in higher level math. I understand the need for foundations if you're going to keep going, but when most people aren't going to go that high, why torture us all?

Hope J 🏳️‍🌈

My late grandfather received his Ph.D in math. What does one write for a dissertation in math? Is it all theory? Does one have to develop a new equation or discover some new math concept?

Emma Doyle

Why does lattice multiplication work??

Treefyy

My pre-calc teacher once told me there are around 9 levels of calculus but the last few are purely theoretical. Is there any truth to this and if so what kind of theories do they cover?

Emily Rose

What do you think about the Fibonacci sequence and it’s connection to nature and applications in technology?

Isabelle Newman

FTQA: so they say math is the universal language…is that true? or do different cultures approach math differently? Does language affect how a culture approaches math and similar problem solving thought processes!

Amelia Dark

I've heard my whole life I'm bad at Maths because I have an 'English and Art Brain' and not a 'Science and Maths Brain' - I there ANY scientific theory here that some people's brains are better wired for Math or are this total flimflam and where the heck did this different brain thing come from (basically can I no longer blame my 'English and art brain' for being shitty at math and must accept I am in fact shit at math)

Lauren N.

I have two girls and don’t want them to absorb the message that girls are bad at math. Suggestions on how to keep them interested and ways to keep them from getting too frustrated and giving up? One heard from a classmate in pre-k that girls were bad at math!

Amanda Lask

What is the most important practical implementation of differential calculus?

Leo Wolperting

Math is FASTASTIC and so friggin cool. Been a fan since I was a little kid into adulthood with threeblueonebrown and numberphile on youtube. When searching for new hypotheses and theorems, how do theorists approach it? Are there more known methods of attacking different branches with different or strange axioms, or are they more discovered and investigated naturally through problem solving for other disciplines? Also has anyone found real life applications yet for the banach-tarski paradox???

fullmetalknee

How much of math is actually just philosophy and existentialism in a trench coat?

Amelie Lu

What is your favourite numeral/notation system and why?

Emily Simmons

FTQA and Applied Math Ph.D. candidate: Why is there so much beef between theoretical mathematicians and applied mathematicians? Can't we all just get along?

Ry_ofthetiger

Do you think math is an actual property of nature or is it more of a language we’ve created to describe and understand it?

Ry_ofthetiger

Is there a real-world example of an imaginary number? Something we can observe in the universe?

Megan Morgan

Is being bad at math a "mental block" or is math more difficult to grasp for some people? Coming from someone who has never done well in math but not for lack of trying

Jessica Rudd

Yay! As an engineering student with a love of all kinds of math, I have been waiting for this episode for forever!! I have to know - Dr. Cheng, do you consider math to be something that was ‘discovered’ or created? I have seen this debate come up a few times. I have always considered math to be a language that is born out of a necessity to describe and analyze the world around us, in a way that most conventional languages cannot. In that sense, humans ‘created’ the language to communicate their discoveries. So it’s kind of both? Is this a good way of thinking about it? I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Thanks!!

RM Puddlefarmer

FTQA, long time listener. Why do numbers freeze my brain? I'm great at logical thinking, figuring out puzzles and juggling ideas in my head, but give me numbers and ask me to do even the simplest addition and suddenly my brain blanks or just moves really slowly.

Sharon Wasko

DITTO. I also get nauseous and experience actual anxiety (especially if those numbers happen to represent money...the stakes are too high!)

Steve Kelem

Hey, my specialty is inventing more efficient ways of doing specialized math, using specialized computing structures!

The Omni-Win Project - Duncan

Oh yes. I'd love to hear about this. I'd also like to hear about Pythagoras and Phi. Did they know they were looking at the same thing? Plus I want to hear more about Fibonacci's role in mathematical history.

Ellzburry Massengill

Hi! Stoked for this Ologie, my question is: why did we learn math in such a convoluted way? Im a critical care paramedic and frequently find myself asking “why is math so complicated?” “Why am I profusely sweating?” (Also why can’t America switch to the metric system, the majority of my mathing is converting LBS to KG and then multiplying or dividing). Im also a field training officer and teach new EMT’s & paramedics how to do med-math and how to math on an emergency scene when literally everyone, including the patient, is watching you. I was fortunate to learn a new way to math a few years ago and it’s greating improved my quick/ on the spot mathing, but at times I clam up and fall back on long hand instead of reducing then cruntching the numbers.

Katie Murray

Is number dyslexia a thing? Or just an excuse I give myself when I can’t write down a phone number correctly?

Jonathan Weinberger

Oooh fun! What are the connections between music and math? Why aren’t we all Bayesians (or at least taught Bayes’ theorem in high school)? How should we think about proofs (including: does it matter that standards of proof have changed; what to make of proofs that no one person can fully understand; what to make of proofs that rely on computer assistance through computation)? What’s your favorite theorem? Have we carved up math well (that is, we call some things topology and other things algebra and other things analysis and other things number theory… have we got the divisions drawn correctly)? One often hears math justified by application to problem solving; should we spend more time talking about it as an aesthetic pursuit (— or teaching it as an aesthetic pursuit)? What do you think about large cardinals and the continuum hypothesis? [Others have asked the discovered/invented question. +1].

Olivia

why are some people just naturally good at math?

Olivia

why do we learn calculus and shit when we dont usually use complex math everyday?

princenocturnal

How come that mental arithmetic is so hard for some people (e. g. me)?

Audrey Ayers

Who the heck came up with matrix algebra? How many dimensions are there, mathematically?!

Drae-Drae

I really hope questions are still open for this one! Is it true that mathematicians can get so close to a real understanding of things such as infinity that they go insane? If so, how do I get there? I want in.

Justin Saucedo

I also want this, probably frivolous but EXTREMELY important, question answered.