Author Archives: Xander

About Xander

Xander completed his PhD in mathematics at UC Riverside in the Spring of 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. His thesis, titled Fractal Zeta Functions in Metric Measure Spaces, explores some connections between the geometry of certain metric spaces, and the spectra of the Laplace operator on those spaces. He is currently an instructor at Northland Pioneer College, out in the beautiful deserts of northern Arizona.

The Monty Hall Problem

Posted on 9 October 2010 by Xander

Suppose you’re on a game show, and you’re given the choice of three doors. Behind one door is a car, behind the others, goats. You pick a door, say 1, and the host, who knows what’s behind the doors, opens … Continue reading →

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Monday Mandelbrot Madness I

Posted on 4 October 2010 by Xander
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Spherical Cows

Posted on 2 October 2010 by Xander

There is an old mathematical joke that goes like this: A dairy farmer is interested in increasing his milk production. He goes to the local university, and seeks the advice of three experts: a biologist, a pharmacist, and a mathematician. … Continue reading →

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Mathemagic

Posted on 30 September 2010 by Xander

I love magic. A friend of mine, who works as a professional magician, introduces one of her tricks by explaining that she was trained as a dancer. In dance, she says, the performers want the audience to see everything that … Continue reading →

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Mathematics and Beauty

Posted on 28 September 2010 by Xander

Why are numbers beautiful? It’s like asking why Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony is beautiful. If you don’t see why, someone can’t tell you. I know numbers are beautiful. If they aren’t beautiful, nothing is. —Paul Erdös I think that most people … Continue reading →

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