Surprises in Mathematics
Featuring Dr. Stan Wagon, Professor of Mathematics - Macalester College. There is no better way to get someone's attention than with an assertion that just seems obviously wrong. Math is full of such things. The talk presents several surprising, even shocking, things from elementary mathematics, such as: A square wheel that rolls perfectly smoothly. A device that uses a normal rotating crankshaft to drill perfect square holes. An application of a non-circular wheel to sewage disposal. A shocking cake puzzle. Surprising new formulas for π. Benford's mysterious law of first digits. The Banach-Tarski Paradox, with constructible pieces.