The Math Club

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. Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email 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 in everyday life?

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. Register your child or students for World Math Day 2026   Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email Questions Answered in the Episode: • What is World Math Day and who is eligible to participate in the competition? • How does the gamification of mathematics help students develop a growth mindset and academic perseverance?

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.   Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email Questions Answered in the Episode: • What is Benford's Law and how does it predict the frequency of leading digits in data sets? • Why do natural data sets like city populations and surface areas often follow a logarithmic distribution of first digits?

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. Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email 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. Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email Questions Answered in the Episode: • What numbers do people choose as their favorite number? • What are some reasons people choose certain numbers as their favorite?

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 hope you find these images to be fun and helpful, and we'll see you next time!  

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 voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email  

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. Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email 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 relate average rates of change to instantaneous rates of change?

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! The Proof - Nova Documentary on Andrew Wiles's proof Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email 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. Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email Questions Answered in the Episode: • What work did Sophie Germain do to advance the proof of Fermat's Last Theorem? • Why is it sufficient to prove Fermat's Last Theorem only for prime exponents?

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. Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email Questions Answered in the Episode: • What does Fermat's Last Theorem state and how does it relate to the Pythagorean Theorem? • Why is it called Fermat's Last Theorem?

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!   Looney Labs Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email Questions Answered in the Episode: • What is Math Fluxx and how do you play it? • How did Andy Looney come up with Math Fluxx and other Fluxx games?

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. Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email 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 Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email Questions Answered in the Episode: • Why is the game of dreidel mathematically unfair, and which player has the statistical advantage? • How do the different possible outcomes of each dreidel spin affect the expected value of the pot for each player?

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. Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email 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 Try out NotebookLM Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email  

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. Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email Questions Answered in the Episode: • What is the Borda count method and how is it used in ranked choice voting? • How does plurality with elimination redistribute votes to determine a winner?

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   • Leave us a voice message • DM us on Twitter • Send us an email Questions Answered in the Episode: • What are the odds of flipping n heads in a row? • In the Daniel Litt coin puzzle, who is more likely to find two heads first: Alice or Bob?

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... Leave us a voice message DM us on Twitter Send us an email

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. Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email 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 Twin Prime conjecture and how are these pairs distributed along the number line?

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   Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email Questions Answered in the Episode: • What are the MATHCOUNTS Competition and the MATHCOUNTS National Math Club programs like? • How does the MATHCOUNTS competition structure work across school, chapter, state, and national levels?

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. Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email 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. Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email Questions Answered in the Episode: • Can you use math to predict the banker's offers on Deal or No Deal? • What is the difference between using a linear model and a random forest algorithm for data analysis?

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 Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email Questions Answered in the Episode: • What is the expected value of the briefcases in Deal or No Deal, and how do you calculate it? • How do the mean and median of the briefcase amounts affect player perception in Deal or No Deal?

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. Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email Questions Answered in the Episode: • What is the difference between a sphere and a solid ball in mathematics? • How can we visualize higher spatial dimensions using the Flatland analogy?

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.   Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email 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. • Brian Hayes's article in American Scientist • Leave us a voice message • Email us • Follow us on Twitter

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...  DING DING DING! • Encrypted passage to decode • Leave us a voice message • Email us • Follow us on Twitter

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   Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email Questions Answered in the Episode: • What are mathematical magic squares, and how are they put together? • What is the magic constant for a normal magic square of order n? • What are some puzzles that are related to magic squares?

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.

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   Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email 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. Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email Questions Answered in the Episode: • How does AI process mathematical expressions and calculations? • Can ChatGPT solve complex math problems like the Chicken McNugget Theorem?

A somewhat traumatic memory about fifth grade timed multiplication tests inspires Pete and Noah to have a conversation with Dr. Juli Dixon, author of a brand new program for teaching math facts fluency without all of the anxiety.  Join us for our most factacular episode to date! Dr. Dixon's DNA Math website Find Dr. Dixon on Twitter The Fact Tactics Fluency Program book Request availability for Dr. Dixon Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email Questions Answered in the Episode: • How can teachers help students learn multiplication facts without making them anxious? • What is the difference between math fact fluency and automaticity?

What do you get if you cross 11,520 isosceles triangles with the happiest place on Earth? The Epcot ball, of course, which is perhaps the most famous geodesic structure in the world. Join Pete and Noah as they investigate these incredibly sturdy mathematical objects… and make sure to wear your clam diggers! Picture of the geodesic dome at the Dalí Museum in Figueres, Spain Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email Questions Answered in the Episode: • What are the mathematical principles and structural advantages of a geodesic dome? • How do you calculate the number of triangles in a geodesic dome?

Pete is back, and Noah is eager to hear about his trip and record a new episode about an interesting bit of European math.  Join us for some zero-based counting, inspired by an elevator that Pete rode on his first day in Spain. Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email Questions Answered in the Episode: • What is the difference between zero-based counting and one-based counting? • What is a fence post error (or off-by-one error) in mathematics?

We've spoken with previous guests about classroom math instruction, as well as how to help students with learning disabilities in mathematics.  But what about the enormous middle ground of students who need extra help, but don't qualify for special education services?  In this episode we're joined by Jonathan Bleecker, owner of a Mathnasium learning center, for an engaging conversation about how math tutors help to fill in those gaps. Contact Livermore Mathnasium Mathnasium's website Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email Questions Answered in the Episode: • How does the Mathnasium curriculum and instructional approach differ from a traditional school setting? • What qualities should you look for in a good math tutor?  

In this episode, the search for a temporary co-host to sub for Pete turns into a conversation about mathematical substitutions.  Join Noah and (the other) Pete as they talk about this powerful strategy, and why being manipulative can be a good thing when you're doing math. Link to this episode's puzzle Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email Questions Answered in the Episode: • How can you use substitution to solve a system of linear equations? • Why are mathematical manipulations like substitution considered a critical skill for students?

With Pete away on vacation, Noah invites a panel of educators over for a lively conversation about mathematics instruction.  Join us as the panel discusses their early days in the classroom, how math education has changed over the past few decades, and what changes they'd like to see in the future.  Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email Questions Answered in the Episode: • How has math education changed over the past few decades? • How has technology like digital assistants and online learning tools impacted math education?

An idea for a new ice cream treat leads Pete and Noah to discuss the different conic sections that can be created by intersecting a cone with a plane at various angles.  Grab a flashlight and get ready to shine a (cone-shaped) light on these interesting geometric creations with us. Image of the four non-degenerate conic sections Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email Questions Answered in the Episode: • What are conic sections and how are they formed?• What is the difference between a parabola and a catenary curve?

You've probably seen people arguing on social media about memes that say: "Only a true genius will get this one right", followed by a simple looking expression to evaluate.  In this episode, a mathematical miscalculation inspires a conversation about math conventions, order of operations, and being careful before placing a delivery order.  And the best news is, you don't have to be a true genius to enjoy this episode! Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email Questions Answered in the Episode: • What is the order of operations in math? • Is the order of operations a mathematical fact or a convention?

In our last episode, Pete walked Noah through a calculation (using Newton's Law of Cooling) to predict what the temperature of a hot cup of water would be 10 minutes later.  Here's a video bonus to help follow along with the calculations they made.

After Pete spills a cup of hot coffee, he and Noah conduct an experiment to test Newton's Law of Cooling, a physical law that describes the rate at which warm objects cool down. Along the way, they discuss differential equations, exponential functions, and the proper way to sit after getting in a hot tub. This may be the hottest episode of the Math Club yet! Photo of our experiment setup Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email Questions Answered in the Episode: • What is Newton's Law of Cooling and how does it predict temperature changes over time? • How do you calculate the heat transfer coefficient for a cooling liquid using an exponential function?

Have you ever engaged in some friendly smack-talk during a sporting event? In this episode, Pete and Noah are on the receiving end of a lot of teasing out on the softball field. After the game, they analyze this kind of interaction and use a clever thought experiment to shed light on an important issue of social equality. Karen Petri's video - Why attacks on sexism are not attacks on men Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email Questions Answered in the Episode: • What is the Petrie multiplier and how does it explain the disproportionate experience of discrimination in the workplace? • How does the ratio of majority to minority populations mathematically affect the frequency of negative interactions received by individuals in the minority group?  

We all know people who describe themselves as "not a math person".  For many of them it's not simply a preference, but a neurological condition.  In this episode, Pete and Noah speak with Dr. Anneke Schreuder about dyscalculia, the lesser-known mathematical counterpart to dyslexia.  Join us for an eye-opening conversation as we learn what it is and how it can be identified and treated. https://dyscalculiaservices.com/ Dyscalculia Headlines Free dyscalculia screener Become a dyscalculia tutor Leave us a voice message Find us on Twitter Send us an email Questions Answered in the Episode: What is dyscalculia and how does it affect the brain's ability to process math? What are the early warning signs of dyscalculia in children?  

The Beach Boys are famous for "getting around", but do you know that the number one gets around a lot, too?  In this episode, one takes center stage as Pete and Noah take a central look at some of the places, both exotic and familiar, that one gets around to. This is "one" episode you don't want to miss!   • Leave us a voice message • Email us • Follow us on Twitter Questions Answered in the Episode: • What is the definition of a mathematical ring? • How do mathematical rings relate to the number one?

Happy birthday… to us!  The Math Club is one year old today, and Pete and Noah are celebrating with a fun-filled discussion of the birthday paradox. Come join the celebration - you might be surprised where it takes you! • Leave us a voice message • Email us • Follow us on Twitter Questions Answered in the Episode: • How many people are needed in a room for there to be a 50% chance of two sharing a birthday? • How does the birthday paradox use probability to calculate shared birthdays?

How much do you think you spent on gas when you took your last road trip?  If you live in the United States, chances are that would make you think about your car's miles per gallon.  But in other parts of the world, fuel effieciency is measured not in MPG, but in gallons per hundred miles.  In this epsiode, Pete and Noah examine this fraction-flipping phenomenon, and weigh in on which version they like better.  So hop in the car and get ready to go for a ride with the Math Club. • Leave us a voice message • Email us • Follow us on Twitter Questions Answered in the Episode: • Why is gallons per 100 miles a more accurate metric for comparing fuel efficiency improvements than miles per gallon? • How do you convert miles per gallon into gallons per 100 miles?