Puzzle from Proof: Seven Gold Rings

In our latest podcast about the movie "Proof", we set the following puzzle:

Tom employs a labourer, who is going to work for him for seven days.

Every day he wants to pay the labourer one gold ring for each day they have worked.

Unfortunately Tom is a strange person who keeps his gold in the form of a chain with seven gold links, and a miser who doesn't like wasting gold. What is the minimum number of links that Tom must cut in order to make sure the labourer can always leave with the correct number of gold links?

Post your comments or answers below, and we'll give you the answer at the end of our next podcast.

Maths at the Movies: Proof

In this episode we watch the movie Proof.

Did Gwyneth Paltrow really prove the theorem? What theorem was she trying to prove? How many vaginas does a Time Lord have?

All these questions and more are discussed in this weeks Maths at the Movies.

If you're interested in watching Proof you can follow the Amazon link below.

Further reading links:

• more about the amazing life of Sophie Germain;
• who was Erdos?;
• calculate your Erdos number;
• what are prime numbers good for?;
• the ideas behind the Four Colour Theorem;
• buy the book of the play.

Subscribe via iTunes.

MATM Appendix: Who the hell are we?

You've listened to us talk, but what are our credentials? What do we know? What are our backgrounds? When should you take our "facts" at face value and when should you call bullshit?

Join us in this appendix to better understand your hosts.

Further reading links:

• you can see this earlier blog post about us;
• Thomas E. Woolley's home page;
• Ben M. Parkers' profile;
• more about Liz. 

 Subscribe via ITunes.

Want to join in on the fun?

Our next "Maths at: The Movies" podcast will be appearing soon, and this week we chat about the movie "Proof", starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Anthony Hopkins. The podcast talks about the concept of proof, certainty, and how to behave at a funeral.

We had great fun watching and discussing it, if you want to watch along with us, you can rent or download the movie now by clicking the image below.

Puzzle from 21: How old will Ben be on his next birthday?

Here's the puzzle from the first episode of the podcast, Maths at: the Movies, 21, where we learnt that mathematicians like Fibonacci Birthday cakes.

However, here's the question for this week. Comment below, or send your answer to podcastmaths@gmail.com, tweet us @podcastmaths, find us on facebook, to receive a shout-out on a future podcast and a warm fuzzy glow.

"Ben is currently 50 years, 50 Months, 50 Weeks, 50 Days, and 50 Hours old. How old will he be on his next birthday?"

(Ben would like to point out he is nowhere near that old, despite Tom's insinuations)

Maths at the Movies: 21

In our first ever episode we watch the movie 21.

This film has it all: racism, sexism, disableism... and a smattering of mathematics.

Join us as we peel back the layers of gambling and card counting to reveal why you should never keep your money in your ceiling and why you'll never be as good a mathematician as Kevin Spacey.

If you're interested in watching 21 you can follow the Amazon link below.

Further reading links:

• more than you could ever want to know about the Fibonacci sequence;
• a basic strategy guide to blackjack;
• learn how to count cards from wikiHow or Scam School;
• a technical guide to the Newton-Raphson technique.

 Subscribe via iTunes.

Who are we?

Thomas E. Woolley

is a Lecturer in Applied Mathematics at Cardiff University. He was an undergraduate, graduate, doctorate and post-doctorate at the University of Oxford, St John's College since 2004 and thought it was about time to leave in 2017.

He specialises in mathematical biology and focuses on the pattern formation behind fish spots and zebra stripes. He also researches mathematical models of stem cells movement. The hope is that by understanding how stem cells move we can influence them and, thus, speed up the healing process.

When not doing mathematics he is a keen participant in mathematical outreach workshops and has given a variety of popular maths lectures nationally and internationally. He has previously worked for the BBC, illustrated Marcus du Sautoy’s book, "The Number Mysteries"; set questions for the popular maths show “Dara O’Briains school of hard sums” and helped redesign the the London Science Museum's Mathematics Gallery.

Ben M. Parker

is a Lecturer in Statistics, in Mathematical Sciences, and the Southampton Statistical Sciences Research Institute. He received a MA in Mathematics and Diploma in Computer Science from University of Cambridge, Pembroke College.

Previous employments include:

• working on an EPSRC grant at Queen Mary, University of London, entitled “Design of Experiments for Complex, Large Scale Networks".
• PhD from Queen Mary, University of London, thesis: “Design of Experiments for Packet Communication Networks”.
• MSc in Applied Statistics and Operational Research from Birkbeck College, University of London.

The Wonderful Liz

is a [REDACTED] who can [REDACTED] with her [REDACTED]. Incredibly, she once [REDACTED] a [REDACTED], which is truly a motivating example of the human spirit that everyone can learn from.

In her spare time she likes nothing more than [REDACTED] with her [REDACTED], or [REDACTED] whilst sipping on a [REDACTED].

She wishes she could say more about her adventures in [REDACTED], but unfortunately, they are far too amazing and no one would believe her.