The Art of Mathematics

The Mathematics of Art

A surprising amount of art is inspired by mathematics. The book Fragments of Infinity describes many works of art and the mathematics behind them. Meet mathematicians who have become artists and artists who have become mathematicians, and some who have always straddled both worlds.

The Real World Is a Special Case

Abstract math is at once about nothing and about everything. The structures it builds may represent numbers, real world objects, music, or things we can barely imagine. Here we look at group theory for numbers, music, Rubik’s cubes and beyond.

How to Find Something You’ve Never Seen

Another seemingly easy problem that’s hard to solve. In fact, it's unsolved. Find an odd perfect number or prove one doesn’t exist. The search involves “spoof” answers, trying to find the right answer (or prove it doesn't exist) by looking at wrong answers. Hey, nothing else has worked.

Beyond the Third Dimension

The fourth dimension is a staple of science fiction and the key to relativity. What exactly is it and how can we visualize it? What about higher dimensions?

One Theorem, 99 Proofs

Can you really approach one mathematical statement 99 different ways? We review the wonderful book 99 Variations on a Proof. The answer is yes.

A Beautiful Theorem with an Ugly Proof

The Four Color Theorem is a pretty little conjecture that has been intriguing mathematicians for more than a century. Too bad the proof stands as an example of really ugly mathematics.

To Infinity...and Beyond

What is infinity, why does it seem so weird, and can you really go beyond it?

The Unsolved Is Solved...and Another

We consider two problems, one in tiling and one in knots. They had each had been unsolved for over 50 years and their solutions hit the popular press in the same week. What kind of skills help people make surprising connections and new discoveries?

This Podcast is Lying

We explore the mind-blowing Liar and related paradoxes and how they changed mathematics

An Impossible Easy Question

Goldbach’s Conjecture and how a statement that is easy to understand is difficult or impossible to resolve

Everything You Know About Math is Wrong

We explore some of the common misconceptions about mathematics and mathematicians.

The Art of Mathematics trailer