The travelling salesman - Maths on the Move

What this episode covers

We continue our series about bringing maths to the stage and screen by going back to 2012 when we were lucky enough to host the UK premiere of the Travelling Salesman, here at the Centre for Mathematical Sciences, our home. It is an unusual movie: despite almost every character being a mathematician there's not a mad person in sight. Moreover, the plot centres on one of the greatest unsolved problems in mathematics, does P = NP? Timothy Lanzone, the writer and director, tells us about creating drama from mathematics, and we discuss the maths behind the movie. (The sound effects used in this podcast are by jlozano and nemoDaedalus.) You can read more about the travelling salesman problem, P versus NP, and cryptography on plus.maths.org

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Maths on the Move?

This episode is 22 minutes long.

When was this Maths on the Move episode published?

This episode was published on November 28, 2023.

What is this episode about?

We continue our series about bringing maths to the stage and screen by going back to 2012 when we were lucky enough to host the UK premiere of the Travelling Salesman, here at the Centre for Mathematical Sciences, our home. It is an unusual movie:...

Can I download this Maths on the Move episode?

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