The Math Club

All you have to do is look around to see that the world is changing very rapidly.  But the course sequence of math education in American schools has changed little since the 1950s.  In this episode, Pete and Noah welcome Ted Dintersmith, author of the book Aftermath, for a lively discussion about which math skills and concepts can best prepare today's students for the world of tomorrow. Find Aftermath on Amazon

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Questions Answered in the Episode:
• What mathematical skills and c...

A close call on the Math Club holodeck sends Pete and Noah down a wormhole investigating Kaprekar's Constant. Beam aboard as we explore strange new algorithms and boldly discover what happens when numbers are put through this interesting iterative process.  

Questions Answered in the Episode

Hey there, Math Club. We have some exciting news to share. Noah has teamed up with yet another Pete to bring you yet another show! A Novel Approach is dedicated to creating novel length stories, produced as immersive audio productions. The first book is called "The End of Secrets", and it explores what happens when the ancient world of vampires collides with the modern world of AI. In each pair of new episodes, you'll get to hear a new chapter of the book, and then a short discussion about how that chapter was put together. We're including the first...

A friend's story leads Pete and Noah to dive into the high-stakes world of poker to settle a debate: does a flush really beat a straight? Using the tools of combinatorics and probability, our hosts break down the math behind five-card hands and explore how the hierarchy of the game is built upon the frequency of outcomes. Ante up... the next hand is about to begin!

Questions Answered in the Episode

A chat with Alexa leads Pete to contemplate what it looks like to lead his best mathematical life.  But what does that mean?  In this episode, Pete and Noah discuss ways to view mathematics not as a rigid school subject, but as a "grand adventure" that is constantly present in your life.

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Questions Answered in the Episode:
• What does it mean to live a mathematical life?
• How can the "I Notice, I Wonder" framework be used to find math i...

In this episode, veteran educator Sheila Robitaille joins Pete and Noah to discuss World Math Day, a global competition for students ages 5 to 18 that promotes mathematical fluency through 60-second "live Mathletics" games. The conversation highlights the 2026 theme, "United by Numbers," exploring how gamification can foster a growth mindset and make math fun and engaging for kids at all levels of math proficiency.

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Questions Answered in the Episode:
• What is...

If we asked all of our listeners to look up the current population of their hometown and email us just the first digit of that number, what do you expect we'd find?  Would the digits be evenly distributed, or would some be more common than others?  In this episode, we look at Benford's Law, and learn some surprising truths about the distribution of numbers in natural data sets.  

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Questions Answered in the Episode:
• What is Benford's Law and how does...

Ever wonder how a website knows your credit card number is "invalid" before you even hit the submit button? In this commando-style holiday episode, Pete and Noah dive into the secrets of Luhn's Algorithm, a clever approach that uses simple arithmetic to validate sequences of digits.


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Questions Answered in the Episode:
• How does the Luhn algorithm work to validate credit card numbers?
• Why do credit card companies use a checksum digit?

It's a simple question: What's your favorite number? But as Pete and Noah discover in this special episode, the answers are anything but simple—they're deeply personal, surprisingly mathematical, and always connected to a story. Join our hosts as they open up the floor to listeners, friends, and family to find out their favorite numbers and the fascinating reasons behind their choices.

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Questions Answered in the Episode:
• What numbers do people choose as their favorite number?
• What are some r...

Hey there Math Club.  Our most recent episode, Math Club Junior:  It's a Zoo Out There, was our second special episode made specifically for kids.  When Noah was planning how he wanted to use the episode with his own third grade class, he knew that some visuals would come in handy, so he created a slide deck with images to go along with each problem that the students will have to solve.  

If you'd like to use this resource along with the audio, you can find it by going to: https://bit.ly/mcj_zoo

We ho...

In this long-awaited followup to our popular Math Club Junior episode, Pete and Noah are back with Mrs. Morrison's class, as chaperones on a field trip to the local zoo. Listen in as our group of Junior Zookeepers meet a whole new cast of zany characters, and once again learn that math is everywhere if you just look around. And just like last time, this story is full of interesting math challenges for listeners in the upper elementary grades to enjoy and solve.   • A slide deck with visuals to go along with each problem from the story   Leave us a voic...

A family visit to the Netherlands introduces Pete to the idea of average speed zones, which illustrate a particularly interesting mathematical theorem.  Join our hosts as they really go off on a tangent about the mean value theorem, and how it just might get you a speeding ticket.

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Questions Answered in the Episode:
• What is an average speed zone and how does it work to catch speeding drivers?
• What is the Mean Value Theorem and how does it relat...

It's finally here!  Part Three of the Fermat Trilogy!  In this exciting conclusion, Pete and Noah talk about the mathematicians who ultimately proved (or thought they'd proven) Fermat's Last Theorem.  Join us for the final chapter of this riveting 350 year journey!

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Questions Answered in the Episode:
• Who proved Fermat's Last Theorem?
• How does the Taniyama-Shimura conjecture relate to the proof of Fermat's Last Theorem?

Join us for part two of our deep dive into the history of Fermat's Last Theorem.  In this episode, Pete and Noah focus on the fascinating story of Sophie Germain, a 19th century French mathematician who pursued a proof in the face of overwhelming obstacles.  Come learn about this impressive chapter in the saga of one of the most interesting problems in mathematical history.

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Questions Answered in the Episode:
• What work did Sophie Germain do to advance the proof of F...

A few episodes back, our hosts talked about the great unsolved mathematical problems of our time, and Pete teased an interesting story about one such problem that was finally solved not too long ago.  In this first of a two-part episode, we dive into the fascinating  story of Fermat's Last Theorem...   from its inception, to Fermat's bold claim that he had a proof that he couldn't share, to the mathematical greats of yesteryear who took up the challenge to prove it.  Join us for a look into this intriguing conjecture, and its amazing history.

In this episode, Pete and Noah are joined by Andy Looney, the creator of the card game Fluxx, to talk about Math Fluxx and his history designing games.  Whether you're a math person who loves a good game or a game person who loves to do math, we're sure you'll find Andy and his story to be interestingly enjoyable.  Game on!

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Questions Answered in the Episode:
• What is Math Fluxx and how do yo...

If you've ever seen a science fiction movie or TV show, then you've heard of the spacetime continuum.  But what is it, and is there math that describes it?  In this episode, Pete and Noah dive into the facts about spacetime, and its fascinating mathematical history.

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Questions Answered in the Episode:
• What is the mathematical definition of spacetime?
• How does the Lorentz factor explain time dilation in special relativity?

It's the holiday season, and Pete and Noah are getting into the festive spirit by looking at the math behind a favorite Hannukah game.  Join our hosts as they delve into the probabilities of the dreidel and uncover a counterintuitive truth about its fairness.  Whatever traditions you and your family look forward to at this time of year, we promise a lively and interesting time as we take this topic for a spin.  Seasons Greetings!

• Robert Feinerman's paper, An Ancient Unfair Game

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In our last episode, finding Primo, Pete explained a couple of tests that mathematicians use when trying to decide if very large numbers are prime. We thought it might be helpful to see the math written down, so we put together this video bonus.

Finding Primo - full episode

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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Questions Answered in the Episode:
• How are new prime numbers discovered?
• What are Mersenne primes and how are they calculated?

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:

Tales from Decrypt

Positive Thinking

Discovery vs. Invention

MathGPT

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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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Questions Answered in the Episode:
• What is the Borda count method and how is...

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.

• Daniel Litt's Twitter post with the puzzle

• Noah's Scratch simulation of the problem

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Questions Answered in the Episode:
• What are the odds of flipping n heads in a row?
• In the...

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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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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Questions Answered in the Episode:
• What are some unanswered problems in mathematics.
• What is the Goldbach conjecture and how does it relate to prime numbers?
• What is the Tw...

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. 

MATHCOUNTS website

Email Kristen Chandler

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Questions Answered in the Episode:
• What are the MATHCOUNTS Competition and the MATHCOUNTS National Math Club programs like?
• How does th...

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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Questions Answered in the Episode:
• What is the 37 percent rule in the secretary problem?
• How does the mathematical constant e relate to optimal stopping theory?

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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...

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.

• Deal or No Deal Data for this episode's challenge

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It's The Math Club's second anniversary, and what better way to celebrate than by telling a bunch of math jokes?  Join us as we share our favorites, along with jokes from our listeners and a few special surprises along the way.  Knock knock.  Who's there?  The Math Club!  

How many dimensions does a sphere have?  If you said three (like Noah did), you may be surprised to hear that you overshot.  In this episode, Pete and Noah explore spatial dimensions, and use a literary classic to illustrate what it even means when mathematicians talk about spaces with more than three.

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Questions Answered in the Episode:
• What is the difference between a sphere and a solid ball in mathematics?
• How can we visualize higher spatial dimens...

A family movie night reminds Pete of an ancient algorithm for calculating square roots, so it's back to The Math Club with pencils and paper in hand.  Join Pete and Noah as they investigate this algorithm to see just how accurate its results can be.

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Questions Answered in the Episode:
• How do you calculate the square root of a non-perfect square by hand?
• What is the Heron of Alexandria algorithm for approximating square roots?

Hey there, Math Club.  We're taking some time off to spend the holidays with our families, so this week we have a rerun of last year's holiday episode...  So Many Birds.

Season's Greetings!  With the holidays on the horizon, a famous song leads Pete and Noah to talk about strategies for adding up long sequences of numbers.  Come join the fun, and learn how a young Carl Gauss may (or may not) have done it.  And if you're up for a challenge, we even "sum it up" with a special holiday puzzle for you to try.

•...

Hey there, Math Club.  We're taking some time off to spend the holidays with our families, so we have a rerun of one of our favorite episodes this week...  Tales from Decrypt.

Today's match-up answers the age-old question of what happens when an unstoppable brain meets an unbreakable cipher.  In the red corner, weighing in at 2,193 digits….   Noah's deviously encrypted message!  And in the blue corner.... The Commissioner of Codebreaking….  The Foreman of Frequency Analysis….  Pete's decoding skills!  Only one will leave the ring victorious.  Who will it be?  Tune in and find out!  The match is about to begin...

In our last episode, Hip to be Square. Pete told us about two famous magic squares—the Sagrada Família magic square and the Dürer magic square—and he mentioned that it's worth seeing them side by side.  We thought it would be fun to put together this short video showing how they compare with one another.

Ever heard of a magic square? How about 17 quintillion magic squares? In this episode, Pete and Noah explore these fascinating mathematical objects to find out more about them.  Join in the fun as we look at examples of centuries-old magic squares, and investigate the fascinating connections they share with some modern day puzzles.

The Sagrada Familía magic square

The Durer magic square

Our Rubik's Cube symmetry video

Play Sudoku 

Play KenKen

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In our last episode, Linear Thinking, Pete mentioned that one practical application of linear algebra is in the field of urban planning and traffic flow.  Here's a video bonus to illustrate how a linear system of equations can be created from traffic data.

Hey there Math Club.  We noticed after today's episode went out that somehow all of our music and sound effects were stripped out of it.  So, we fixed it and it is now reposted and available for download.  If you haven't listened yet, you may want to go and redownload it and get the new version.

In this episode, Pete and Noah tackle an "unsolvable math problem" that appeared in a recent Newsweek article (Spoiler: It's not that unsolvable). Join us as we apply linear algebra to this puzzle from start to Finnish.

The Newsweek article

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Questions Answered in the Episode:
• Can you solve a linear system with fewer equations than variables?
• What is the geometric representation of a linear system with three unknowns?

In this episode, Pete and Noah explore the question, "Can AI do math?" Armed with several boxes of Chicken McNuggets, they put ChatGPT to the test, scrutinizing its mathematical prowess and giggling over how bad its attempts sometimes are. Join them as they investigate just how far the digital mind can go in mastering the realm of numbers.

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Questions Answered in the Episode:
• How does AI process mathematical expressions and calculations?
• Can ChatGPT solve comp...