Month:

How Can We Calculate Pi?

  • September 9

Pi is a number describing the ratios various parts and measurements of circles have with each other, meaning we can calculate it from any measurable circle – including this sculpture, Sun Disc Triptych by Jesús Moroles. Join talkSTEM and UT Southwestern faculty and grad students as they explore the STEM concepts on their campus.... CONTINUE READING

How Many Circles Make Up this Pattern?

  • September 9

There’s a pattern of overlapping circles in the ground pavement around the medical center – but is there any way to estimate how many circles there are? We investigate a few different methods of figuring it out! Join talkSTEM and UT Southwestern faculty and grad students as they explore the STEM concepts on their campus.... CONTINUE READING

How Big is Your Imagination?

  • September 9

The castle-shaped shelves in the Dallas Public Library picture book area is a fun way to incorporate imaginative architecture into a space. Designing these sorts of shelves requires quite a bit of math and planning – something we try to tease apart by taking measurements of its dimensions.... CONTINUE READING

How Many are in the Array?

  • September 9

The television screens laid out in the Dallas Public Library Louise Kahn Pavilion are arranged in an array, a regular grid of objects. This can make calculating how many screens are in the are the array a quick process – join us as we discuss the techniques to do so!... CONTINUE READING

How Symmetrical Is It?

  • September 9

Dr. Glen Whitney, founder of the National Museum of Mathematics in New York and walkSTEM advisor discusses different kinds of symmetry you can experience in this place including rotational and mirror symmetry.... CONTINUE READING

How do you use mathematical clues?

  • September 9

Dr. Glen Whitney, founder of the National Museum of Mathematics in New York and walkSTEM advisor shows how to look for mathematical clues in real world places in order to solve a problem or answer a question. In this case, the question is whether the building's column is actually straight or not.... CONTINUE READING

What is Symmetry Doing for Us?

  • September 9

Dr. Glen Whitney, founder of the National Museum of Mathematics in New York and walkSTEM advisor admires the dome shaped ceiling in Dallas Hall. He notices the symmetries in the design of the rotunda and finds a linear relationship between symmetry and decorative items. This is a great example of a beautiful design produced through the use of a variety of different kinds of symmetries. A supplementary activity guide is available for this video, thanks to participation by faculty and students at... CONTINUE READING