Ivars Peterson

All Stories by Ivars Peterson

  1. Math

    Coins in a Row

    A simple game involving coins in a row has unexpected complexities.

  2. Math

    Works in Progress

    Studying math in school doesn't often give you a sense of what mathematical research is about.

  3. Math

    Classroom Birthdays

    What's the probability of finding matching birthdays in a small group?

  4. Math

    Captcha the Puzzle

    A computer creates a test that it can't pass but most people can.

  5. Math

    Sosa’s Corked Bat

    Does Sammy Sosa's hitting reveal a corked-bat effect?

  6. Math

    Sea Shell Spirals

    The golden ratio doesn't figure into the spiral structure of the chambered nautilus shell.

  7. Math

    Fibonacci’s Other Numbers

    Arrays of whole numbers can give intriguing sums.

  8. Math

    Primal Surge

    The Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search has netted its eighth champion.

  9. Math

    Super Bowl Crashes

    Should you stay off the road immediately after the Super Bowl telecast is over?

  10. Math

    Super Bowl Crashes

    Should you stay off the road immediately after the Super Bowl telecast is over?

  11. Math

    Knot Divided in Snow

    The Möbius strip gets embedded in a knotty block of snow.

  12. Math

    Going with the Crowd

    Choosing a restaurant can pack them in.