Math for Primates

Yes, we flat out skipped episode 12.  Why, because mathematicians can't count ... In this episode: * Zeno's beach bungalow and why he can't come out to play * Do train tracks actually touch at infinity?  How do YOU know? Have you been there? * Watch out for the Hordes!! * Welcome to the Hilbert Hotel ... you can check in any time you like, blah, blah, blah ... * What do you do with an infinite number of mathematicians? Run! * Explaining jokes at the Unit Interval, a great neighborhood bar. * Is one type of infinity BIGGER than another kind? * Counting ALL the Real Numbers, "... 2, ah ah ... 3, ah ah ... pi, ah ah!" * The Power Set:  the enemy of the X-Men. * Fractals, Hippies, and gettin' trippy * Is Nick a quantum human? (http://www.mathforprimates.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/buzz-300x290.jpg) It's taken a while to get this episode up.  Our original plan of having a weekly or bi-weekly schedule was more than ambitious than we'd expected. But, never fear, we haven't stopped - only slowed down to make room for those pesky things in life like work, school, and family!

As most of you know, we're still working on the format.  And it will take a number of goes to get it dialed in.  This is the second incarnation.  Feel free to comment, and we'll take your input to heart. Oh, and we pre-record a lot of these, so even if we are planning on using your idea, it may take a while to incorporate it.  All part of the process.  Thanks for your patience! OK, in this episode: * How math can turn you into a fortune teller. * What is a "precise falafel"? * Is an infinite number of Nick's a good or a bad thing?  I say good! * $7 bucks is a lot of money.  Just sayin' * Expected value of using your Quantum Superpowers to play the lottery. * The primate brain's pattern recognition is both kick-ass, and dumb as hell. * Nick:  "Get out while you can, monkey!" * The reason Las Vegas is not a Not for Profit city. * Chess or Poker, that is the question. * Natufian tribes, genes, and humpin'.

EDIT:  I want to make clear that the episode below includes some new musical interludes that are in the "rough draft" stage.  I put it up because I'd love to hear comments from you, our audience, on what you felt worked and didn't work.  Our goal is to add in some extra "stylings", but we don't want these to drown out the content. Please feel free to comment in the comments section about what you think worked and what you think didn't.  Your opinions will help to make this an even better show! In This Episode: * All about Combinatorics - the Mathematicians fancy way of "counting". * The magical musical and production styling's of Keith Schreiner (http://www.auditorysculpture.com/) make Tom and Nick seem "almost" respectable. * Tom invents the natural numbers in under 3 minutes. * 5 primates are standing in a line ... can you come up with a punch line? * Is the factorial [5! = 5x4x3x2x1] just a way for mathematicians to justify yelling? * How many ways can you cage 2 primates out of 5?  And is this illegal? * The importance of watching Stargate SG1. * Why is your genome smarter than your computer? * If you went far enough on a space ship, would your toothpaste taste like rye bread? * Apparently Nick 'Horton' has an alter-eg0, Nick 'Lion'.  It does sound more manly. This program was produced by Keith Schreiner who's other work you can find here (http://www.auditorysculpture.com/). (http://www.mathforprimates.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/SG1-stargate-300x225.jpg)

In this podcast: * Tom and Nick are not as happy with Pi Day as you'd expect. * Why do Hippies like Pi so much? * Where does pi come from, and why do we care? * Is mounting a Ferris Wheel on a Flat-Bed Truck a good idea? * How many digits of pi can YOU recite?  I'll bet not 69,000! * Nick and Tom give you back 23 hours and 40 minutes of your life ... ish. Bonus Pi Recipes Continued fraction recipe for pie at Math World (http://mathworld.wolfram.com/PiContinuedFraction.html) (http://mathworld.wolfram.com/images/equations/PiContinuedFraction/NumberedEquation3.gif) Recipe for Boysenberry Pie: Click here for the recipe from Simply Recipes. (http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/boysenberry_pie/) (http://www.mathforprimates.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/boysenberry-pie.jpg)

in this Podcast: * What's wrong with the "medal count" ordering in the Olympics? * Is it really all that surprising that Canada is good at Curling? * quasi ordering vs partial ordering vs total ordering - who cares? * Nick, leave the carrots out of this! * Dealing with our Daddy issues with an ancestor semi-lattice * Are you your own ancestor? * For that matter, is a sandwich equal to 5 dollars? * Discovering the quasi-order of joy-points (http://www.mathforprimates.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/curling-300x240.jpg)

In this podcast: * Geometry on Acid: The category of Topological spaces and continuous maps. * Tom has a silly putty reason for everything. * The continuity of film. * Did Xeno predict calculus? * Ms. PacMan also loves donuts. Here's a video of a coffee cup continuously deforming into a donut.  Mmm ... donuts. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt4JZyssxOQ]

In this Podcast: * Cooperative vs. Non-cooperative games * OR Combinatorial vs. Procedural Games * Does Curious George belong on the show "Shark Tank"? * The most hardcore competitive market ever devised * How rapacious can Tom get? * Is Nick totally worthless? (http://www.mathforprimates.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Curious-George-150x150.jpg)

In This Podcast * What is a Category, and why do I care? * Did cave men use the word "the"? * Getting funky with "functors". * The WORST George Clinton impersonation of ALL TIME * Sets vs Groups vs Vector Spaces vs Graphs * Do movies take away something important from life? * Do 3-d movies give it back? * AND Bonobo Sex ... Yes, I said  it ... Bonobo Sex (http://www.mathforprimates.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/bonobo-150x150.jpg)

In This Podcast * (http://www.mathforprimates.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/future460-150x150.jpg)What's wrong with economics? * Is mathematics an appropriate tool for social science? * Vector bundles * The Delorean and it's role in understanding typewriters. * The 12-Gauge shotgun approach to fixing economics! References * Eric Weinstein's lectures on Gauge theory (http://www.eric-weinstein.net/economictheory.html) (3 video's at the bottom of page - well ... links to video's.) * Tom's post on it here (http://www.mathpunk.net/?p=74). * Terrence Tao on Gauge Theory (http://terrytao.wordpress.com/2008/09/27/what-is-a-gauge/)

In this Episode: * (http://www.mathforprimates.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/clinteastwood-238x300.jpg)What does a good Clint Eastwood impression have to do with being a good teacher? * How Teach For America is revolutionizing the teaching scene * Can you teach good teaching? * What's up with Texas and their maniacal standards for graduation? References * What makes a good teacher? (http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/201001/good-teaching)