Author Archives: annahaensch

A Circular Approach To Linear Algebra

Posted on February 28, 2017 by annahaensch

This semester I’m teaching Linear Algebra for the first time, so naturally, I am constantly on the prowl for all of the linear algebra resources the internet has to offer. To begin with, I’m using a free online textbook called … Continue reading →

Posted in Math Education | Tagged linear algebra, Matthew Simonson, Steven Strogatz, Wolfram | 4 Comments

They Answered The Call Of Numbers

Posted on February 13, 2017 by annahaensch

“Hidden Figures is a book about people like you, who answered the call of numbers,” said the author Margot Lee Shetterly, addressing a packed room at the Joint Math Meetings in Atlanta this January. The book, which tells the story … Continue reading →

Posted in History of Mathematics, women in math | Tagged Hidden Figures | Comments Off

Best And Worst Of The Year

Posted on December 25, 2016 by annahaensch

We made it through 2016, and now it’s that time when we reflect on a year gone by. Best of 2016 There were several cool breakthroughs in math this year. My personal favorite involved the famous question of how to … Continue reading →

Posted in Events | Comments Off

New PBS Show All About Math

Posted on December 1, 2016 by annahaensch

Last week PBS launched a new show on YouTube all about math called Infinite Series. The first three episodes are up and they’re a ton of fun. The show is hosted by Kelsey Houston-Edwards, who is a graduate student at … Continue reading →

Posted in Math Communication | Tagged Infinite Series, Kelsey Houston-Edwards, PBS, Pigeon Hole Principle, sphere packing | Comments Off

As The Dust Settles, Let’s Check The Numbers

Posted on November 15, 2016 by annahaensch

I really didn’t want to write about the election. But probably, much like you, it’s all I can think about right now. News media is completely saturated with it and the blogs are churning out a steady stream of predictions … Continue reading →

Posted in Data Science, Events, Issues in Higher Education | Tagged Cathy O'Neil, Chronicle of Higher Ed, Election, Polling | Comments Off

Math Games Might Be Sort Of Good For Your Brain

Posted on October 31, 2016 by annahaensch

Good news, all that time you spent playing World of Warcraft might have made you smarter. A study out of Stanford just showed that playing video games just 10 minutes each day can make you better at math. The study … Continue reading →

Posted in Math Education, Recreational Mathematics | Tagged Apps, Euclidea, Math Munch, ReTopo, Video Games | 1 Comment

How Polling Works…Or Doesn’t Work

Posted on October 13, 2016 by annahaensch

From the perpetual pit in my stomach, to the sleepless nights, to the eyes bloodshot from peering at endless forecast models and polling predictions, only one thing can be true: the election is nigh upon us. In a time of … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Statistics, Uncategorized | Tagged Election Forecasting, Mathematical Modeling, Polling | Comments Off

The Mathematical Tweet Beat

Posted on October 1, 2016 by annahaensch

I was a twitter skeptic for a very long time. And now my love affair with twitter is so deep, it’s hard to even remember what my reservations were in the first place. I first joined in 2013, compelled by … Continue reading →

Posted in Math Communication, Uncategorized | Tagged math tweets, twitter | Comments Off

More To Math and Art Than Just Phi

Posted on September 13, 2016 by annahaensch

I recently became aware of the mathematical artist Lun-Yi London Tsai. Tsai has a master’s degree in math, and it is clear that he has studied a great deal of math in his life. His mathematical paintings and drawings are … Continue reading →

Posted in Mathematics and the Arts, Uncategorized | Tagged Alejandro Guijarro, art, chain complex, chalkboard, Hopf Fibration, Lun-Yi Tsai | 2 Comments