Most folks readily tell me that they don’t do any math in a day. Not a stitch. So maybe they don’t sit down and solve for x or graph a quadratic equation or use the Pythagorean Theorem. But we all do math every day.
Daily Digits: My math day
Boston Marathon: How FBI profilers use math
We can all agree that the horrific events at Monday’s Boston Marathon sent a chill down our country’s collective spine. The two bombs that exploded have made us afraid and sad and hopeless. One message that seemed to ease many’s
Sharing Awareness with Kids: Bedtime Math
One of the questions I get most often from parents is this: How can I help my kids from being anxious about math like I am? And for a math nerd like me, the answer is pretty simple. I’m unnaturally aware
Math Awareness Month: What’s Your Story?
Lots of people make one of two incorrect assumptions about me. I’m a writer, so they initially assume that I don’t have a good relationship with math. And when they find out that I have a degree in math, they assume
Finding the Funny in Algebra
So the person who inspired this series on Algebra is my dear friend Michele “Wojo” Wojciechowski – a very funny writer and stand-up comic. In her honor, I thought I’d wrap things up with a post looking at the humorous side of algebra.
Building Formulas: Spreadsheets, algebra and guest lists
The classic answer to the question, “When am I going to use algebra?” is spreadsheets. Now I will admit straight up — I am a spreadsheet junkie. I’ll build one for just about anything, from menu planning to blog schedules to
Say “I Do” to Algebra: Using math to plan a wedding
There must be a special circle of hell for those of us planning our weddings and receptions. I know this first-hand, because I’m planning my own nuptials for this summer, and I’m about to pull my hair out. (No wait! If I
It’s Not Tomato Season Yet, But You Still Need Algebra
So I’ve been harping on the fact that math is flexible. And I’ve also said more than once that we do the math that we need to do. (No one here is suggesting that calculus computations are necessary for everyday
Happy Pi Day!
In celebration of 3-14 or Pi Day, I bring you 10 interesting facts about the number π. 1. The number π is the world’s most recognizable constant. 2. π is equal to a circle’s circumference divided by its diameter. It is approximately 3.14159, though the number never
Using Algebra – Literally
Parks and Recreation, the Amy Poeler-driven mocumentary on NBC about a small-town parks department, features a tightly wound character, Chris Traeger, whose favorite word is literally – as in: “Biking for charity is literally one of my interests on Facebook.” It’s funny because it
Coloring Inside the Lines: How algebra helps
Math is black-and-white, with right-or-wrong answers. It’s hard to color outside the lines in math. While I often argue with this point, there is some truth to it. Just like grammar, chemistry and baking, math is a pretty precise subject
Numbers and Letters Together: What is algebra?
A Math for Grownups follower asked me earlier this week to define algebra, and I thought that was an excellent place to start this month-long discussion. I think that most people might be surprised by what is generally found under the