Column
- Math
Firm Data
Business firms range in size from boutiques operated by individuals to huge multinational corporations employing thousands. You would expect that there are fewer large businesses than small ones. In economics, however, it’s useful to characterize the size distribution of firms more precisely than that. Within an industry, for example, the firm size distribution would indicate […]
- Math
Spotting Ladybugs
Ladybugs are among the most familiar of beetles. More than 4,000 species are found throughout the world, ranging in size from 4 to 18 millimeters. Also known as lady beetles or ladybirds, these insects (coccinellids) have rounded bodies and bright red, orange, or yellow wing covers, which usually bear an array of contrasting black spots […]
- Math
Spotting Ladybugs
Ladybugs are among the most familiar of beetles. More than 4,000 species are found throughout the world, ranging in size from 4 to 18 millimeters. Also known as lady beetles or ladybirds, these insects (coccinellids) have rounded bodies and bright red, orange, or yellow wing covers, which usually bear an array of contrasting black spots […]
- Math
Follow the Leader
In the sport of orienteering, a competitor uses a detailed map (and perhaps a compass) to navigate his or her way across varied terrain following a course drawn on the map. Selecting the best available route, each participant races from one marker to the next in the required sequence. The winner is the person who […]
- Math
Sand Drawings and Mirror Curves
To accompany the telling of a story or recounting of a fable, men of the Chokwe people in south-central Africa traditionally made sand drawings, called sona, to illustrate the tale. These highly stylized geometric illustrations also served as memory aids. Sand drawing. Paulus Gerdes Plaited mat designs. Mark Schlatter Lion’s stomach design. Mark Schlatter Example […]
- Math
Waves of Congestion
You’re confined to a single lane as you drive along a narrow, winding road. The car in front of you suddenly slows, then just as inexplicably accelerates a short time later, only to slow again. As you keep adjusting to the leading car’s erratic speed changes, you sometimes find a clump of vehicles closely tailing […]
- Math
Waves of Congestion
You’re confined to a single lane as you drive along a narrow, winding road. The car in front of you suddenly slows, then just as inexplicably accelerates a short time later, only to slow again. As you keep adjusting to the leading car’s erratic speed changes, you sometimes find a clump of vehicles closely tailing […]
- Math
Mozart’s Melody Machine
Music publishing was a thriving trade during the latter part of the 18th century in Europe. Publishers vied with one another to print the works of the latest “hot” composer. Many of them looked for novel ways to entice new customers into their music shops. One such ploy was to publish systems that would allow […]
- Math
Mozart’s Melody Machine
Music publishing was a thriving trade during the latter part of the 18th century in Europe. Publishers vied with one another to print the works of the latest “hot” composer. Many of them looked for novel ways to entice new customers into their music shops. One such ploy was to publish systems that would allow […]
- Math
Art of Pursuit
The simple mathematical concept of a pursuit curve can serve as the starting point for creating wonderfully intricate artistic designs. Four “bugs” chasing one another produce an intriguing pattern of nested, rotated squares. Courtesy of John Sharp. Pursuit curves based on a star-shaped polygon. Courtesy of John Sharp. Example of a pattern in which the […]
- Math
Art of Pursuit
The simple mathematical concept of a pursuit curve can serve as the starting point for creating wonderfully intricate artistic designs. Four “bugs” chasing one another produce an intriguing pattern of nested, rotated squares. Courtesy of John Sharp. Pursuit curves based on a star-shaped polygon. Courtesy of John Sharp. Example of a pattern in which the […]
- Math
Art of Pursuit
The simple mathematical concept of a pursuit curve can serve as the starting point for creating wonderfully intricate artistic designs. Four “bugs” chasing one another produce an intriguing pattern of nested, rotated squares. Courtesy of John Sharp. Pursuit curves based on a star-shaped polygon. Courtesy of John Sharp. Example of a pattern in which the […]
