Update: Links to each segment are now live
I’m derelict in my writing duties this month. This is for many reasons. The primary one is that I lost my glasses and probably won’t be able to replace them until November. There is an event that I’m so excited about that I had to write about it. This Friday, October, 28th 2022 there is going to be a 24 hour math stream for charity. The topic is math games. Featuring several Numberphile presenters; Katie Steckles, Simon Singh, Tom Crawford, and James Grime.
Information about the Stream
You can watch the stream here; https://24hourmaths.com/gameshow/. They will announce the YouTube link when they are live. You may also want to follow them on Twitter. The times are in BST but there is an option to convert them to your local time zone. It starts at 11 am PST for those on the West Coast of the US.
Why Does this Matter?
So, why is this a big deal? Well, at least to me, it is incredibly interesting and this is my story. I was the worst at math in fourth grade. I could not understand greater or less than. Multiplication was not happening for me.
Things were even more challenging because my family didn’t know how to help. They were themselves math anxious.
Well, I figured out how to do multiplication by turning numbers into letters. Making them more like the cryptogram puzzles that I would solve with my mother. I wanted to turn my strength in language into a way that I could study mathematics. Through this method, I was able to understand the grammar of mathematical equations.
I didn’t stop there. As a lonely child, I would often make up games that I could play by myself in my room. I played a game where I turned words into addition problems. Comparing the values of different words.
In this way, I worked my number sense like an atrophied muscle and was able to catch up to my peers.
Stream Segments that I’m Looking Forward To
Math games are a great way to spark a kid’s love of mathematics. These are some of the stream segments that I’m most interested in.
James Grime
I’m intrigued by the premise of playing a math game against a book. I don’t know what I’m expecting. I had a great book of logical puzzles when I was a kid though. It had three types in it. The first was variations on the water jug puzzles. The second was liar puzzles with increasing difficulties. The third was the ones where you had to have an animal cross a stream but it could only be done in a certain order. I loved that book and I’m so sad that I lost it.
Math Games with Bad Drawings
This is with author Ben Orlin who also has a popular math blog. As someone who made my own math games, I want to see what Ben features in his book. I may pick up a copy if I like them. One of The contestants is Ayliean MacDonald. A presenter who has appeared on Numberphile and Objectivity. The other players are Rasitha Maddage and Samuel Hansen.
Note 1: Ben and I were both interviewed for an episode of the podcast Alone Together.
The Game of Nim
I don’t know how many people are familiar with Nim. If you like math you might have seen it or a variant. Two people take turns removing objects, like stones, from different piles. The aim is to force your opponent to take the last object. Well, turns out, there is a clear mathematical strategy for winning the game. So, yeah, play with your friends and amaze them with your skills. Colin Wright hosts this segment.
Note 1: A variation of this game features as a plot point in the classic film Last Year at Marienbad. A film that I was fortunate to see at a fancy theater in Chicago while I lived there. I also recommend Hiroshima Mon Amour by the same director.
Note 2: Matt Parker also did a video about Nim that I enjoyed.
Numberwang
I have nothing to say about this one. Just wanted an excuse to post this clip. Should be fun though!
Dungeons & Dragons
Well, I would love this one as a former TTRPG community manager. I look forward to some dice rolling. Also hoping that a mathematical adventure might pique people’s interest to play. It is a fun hobby that only requires your imagination and a set of dice.
Summary
That is all I wanted to say on the subject of math games. It will be so much fun. So I have decided to live Tweet/live blog. And by live blog, I’m going to embed my Tweets into a blog post over the weekend. If you want to follow along, you can connect with me on Twitter.