Some weekend combinatorics

Combinatorics problems (each one builds on the previous one): If there’s a sequence of tasks you need to do, and you know how many ways there are to do each … Continue reading Some weekend combinatorics

Simon’s Magnum Opus

At the beginning of each year, I make a very long, ridiculous video (which I like to call a “magnum opus”). Last year it was the 2048 cookies project. This … Continue reading Simon’s Magnum Opus

A quick experiment to prove that a catenary is not a parabola

I sampled 9 points on this curve. The x coordinates have constant increments (equally spaced horizontal coordinates). I then measured the y coordinates — that’s what the numbers at the … Continue reading A quick experiment to prove that a catenary is not a parabola

Simon’s videos are featured on the Global Math Project website!

In October, Simon’s videos were featured on the Global Math Project website! The bulk are his latest three videos with detailed proofs of pile-splitting magic: In this video, I will … Continue reading Simon’s videos are featured on the Global Math Project website!

More Math games on a sheet of paper or on the street, using two pieces of chalk

Here come a few simple but beautiful math games that don’t take much time or preparation. Simon has learned about these from the following great resources, worth checking out: Math … Continue reading More Math games on a sheet of paper or on the street, using two pieces of chalk

James Tanton’s Matrix Math

Yes, this one is about what Simon learned from James Tanton again. Simon basically spent two months living on Tanton’s websites. He even gave me two colorful lectures on matrix … Continue reading James Tanton’s Matrix Math

P-adic System is used in computers!

Back in October, Simon got fascinated with this weird system called p-adic numbers (where p stands for “prime”). It’s a system in which you can have numbers going infinitely far … Continue reading P-adic System is used in computers!

Square Roots on Napier’s Checkerboard

I’ve figured out how to do square-roots in binary on Napier’s Checkerboard! I’ve learned how to do addition, subtraction, multiplication and division from James Tanton’s vids. I’ve shown how to … Continue reading Square Roots on Napier’s Checkerboard

Base 3/2

Simon is simply mesmerized by the founder of the Global Math Project James Tanton. He has watched countless tutorials by Tanton and frequents Tanton’s Exploding Dots website that features a … Continue reading Base 3/2

A “quirky way to add, subtract and multiply in binary”

Simon has shown me an interesting way to add, subtract and multiply in binary using what is called a Napier’s Checkerboard (or Napier’s Chessboard), something he learned from his new … Continue reading A “quirky way to add, subtract and multiply in binary”