Math Trek

  1. Math

    Probabilities in Bingo

    One of the little pleasures of our annual winter vacation is an evening Bingo party. After a day of sledding and cross-country skiing, it’s relaxing to indulge in a social game that requires minimal thought, affords young and old the same chance of winning, and has a strong element of suspense. To play Bingo, each […]

    By Ivars Peterson
  2. Math

    Troublesome Weather Trends

    Unlike the day or year, the week isn’t tied to any naturally recurring phenomenon. When meteorologists detect a trend that follows a weekly rhythm, they suspect that human activities–and the 5-day work week–are responsible. In 1998, researchers at Arizona State University in Tempe reported that daily oceanic rainfall shows a weekly precipitation cycle across a […]

    By Ivars Peterson
  3. Math

    Troublesome Weather Trends

    Unlike the day or year, the week isn’t tied to any naturally recurring phenomenon.