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The Elevator and the Fencepost: Zero-Based Counting

The Math Club

Release Date: 09/01/2023

Finding Primo:  The Search for Very Large Primes show art Finding Primo: The Search for Very Large Primes

The Math Club

Have you heard the big news?  There’s a new largest known prime number, and Noah wants to know how it was discovered.  In this episode, Pete explains the various tests used to determine the primality of insanely large numbers, and there’s even a prime challenge for you to sink your teeth into.

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Talkin' 'bout My Generation:  A Deep Dive into The Math Club show art Talkin' 'bout My Generation: A Deep Dive into The Math Club

The Math Club

Are you ready to revisit the best of The Math Club?  Pete and Noah share a trip down memory lane with a pair of special guests.  But as they dive deeper into their past episodes, a nagging feeling grows harder to ignore..  Who are these mysterious guests, and what strange secret are they hiding from our hosts? Episodes we reference in our conversation:  

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Elective Procedures:  The Mathematics of Voting Systems show art Elective Procedures: The Mathematics of Voting Systems

The Math Club

The memory of a restaurant-choosing game from grad school inspires Pete and Noah to look at different voting systems, and the math behind how they work to select a winning candidate. From standard majority rules to ranked choice to plurality with elimination, join our hosts for a lively (and timely) conversation about how our voting system can be just as important as our vote.

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Two Heads are Better Than One: A Counterintuitive Coin Flipping Problem show art Two Heads are Better Than One: A Counterintuitive Coin Flipping Problem

The Math Club

An unlikely string of coin flips leads to a conversation about a counterintuive puzzle that Pete found online.  Join in on the fun as Pete and Noah dissect this problem, and talk about multiple ways to approach understanding its solution. • • • • •

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Mini Series show art Mini Series

The Math Club

Hey Math Club...  Pete and Noah need your help with a data mystery, so they put this mini-episode together.  If you think you have any info that can help shed some light, drop us a line...

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Houston, We Have Some Problems:  Currently Unsolved Math Questions show art Houston, We Have Some Problems: Currently Unsolved Math Questions

The Math Club

Unsolved.  From the origin of Stonehenge, to the identity of Jack the Ripper, to the location of all those missing dryer socks, the world is full of unsolved questions.  But what about math?  Join Pete and Noah as they discuss some of the great unsolved problems facing mathematicians today.  

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Making it Count:  An Interview with MATHCOUNTS show art Making it Count: An Interview with MATHCOUNTS

The Math Club

Pete’s efforts to help Noah prepare for an upcoming math competition lead to a conversation with Kristen Chandler, the executive director of MATHCOUNTS.  Join Pete and Noah as they learn about this fascinating organization that provides engaging math programs to middle school students around the country.   

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Hire Order Thinking:  Exploring Optimal Stopping Theory show art Hire Order Thinking: Exploring Optimal Stopping Theory

The Math Club

A batch of almost perfect waffles leads Pete and Noah into an exploration of an interesting probability result.  Come find out how, whether you’re eating breakfast or hiring a new employee, math is here to help you make the best choice.  

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Double Dealing: The Mathematics of Deal or No Deal, Part 2 show art Double Dealing: The Mathematics of Deal or No Deal, Part 2

The Math Club

It’s time for our second episode about the mathematics of Deal or No Deal.  At the end of Part 1, Noah asked Pete if The Banker follows certain set rules or patterns when deciding how much to offer contestants, and a challenge was born.  Is it possible to use data from past shows to devise an algorithm that can predict the offers?  Stay tuned as Pete takes Noah along on his mathematical journey in search of a model that works.

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What's the Deal?:  The Mathematics of Deal or No Deal show art What's the Deal?: The Mathematics of Deal or No Deal

The Math Club

The recent return of this classic game show prompts Pete and Noah to discuss the probability and statistics at work, to see if they can figure out what makes for a "good deal".  Join in as they dive into the mathematics behind the show.  They'll even present you with a challenge that could earn you a shout out on a future episode.

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More Episodes

Pete is back, and Noah is eager to hear about his trip and record a new episode about an interesting bit of European math.  Join us for some zero-based counting, inspired by an elevator that Pete rode on his first day in Spain.