Math in Pop Culture
In this 1997 film, Matt Damon’s character plays a Harvard janitor who is also a natural genius in mathematics.
What is Good Will Hunting?
Binary number systems, often found in computer programming, use only these two digits.
What are 0 and 1?
Despite its slight vertical tilt, the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy can best be described as this type of 3D geometric figure.
What is a cylinder?
Honeybees use this geometric shape when constructing their hives as a way of maximizing space in a mathematically efficient way.
What is a hexagon?
In math, the ≈ symbol, which resembles a wavy equals sign, is to represent an ______________________.
What is an approximation?
In this 2001 film, Russell Crowe plays real-life mathematician, John Nash, who is best known for his contributions in the field of game theory.
What is A Beautiful Mind?
First celebrated in San Francisco in 1988, this mathematical holiday is celebrated annually on March 14th.
What is "Pi Day?"
Located in the heart of Paris, the giant glass structure located in the main courtyard of the Louvre Museum is this geometric shape.
What is a pyramid?
Found naturally in pinecones and sunflowers, the spiral arrangement of structures and seeds follow this geometric sequence.
What is the Fibonacci Sequence?
In math, the ∑ symbol, known as sigma, is used to represent _________________ .
What is Summation?
According to the film The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, this number is associated with life, the universe, and everything.
What is the number 42?
Video game designers plan out their games using this kind of system, that, by definition, uses X, Y, and Z-values to determine the position of a point.
What is the Coordinate System?
Often found in tile patterns and in the artwork of M.C. Escher, this concept refers to the repeated arrangement of interlocking figures and shapes.
What are Tessellations?
Mathematical in nature, ocean waves often follow this type of function, which is used to describe cyclic oscillations.
What is a sine wave?
In math, the ! symbol is used to indicate a ___________________, which represents the product of the sequence of every positive integer leading up to the given number.
What is Factorial?
In the famous Netflix show Stranger Things, the young characters frequently refer to this branch of mathematics as it relates to an alternate dimensions, which they call the upside down.
What is Quantum Mechanics?
This statistical measure of central tendency represents the middle value in a data set when the numbers are arranged from smallest to largest.
What is the Median?
This massive geometric structure covered with a high-tech exterior LED screen began hosting immersive entertainment experiences in Las Vegas in 2023.
What is The Sphere?
The atoms in a methane molecule are arranged as a Platonic Solid with four triangular faces, six edges, and four vertices, also known as this type of 3D figure.
What is a tetrahedron?
In set theory, the ∅ symbol represents the ________________ set.
What is empty?
In the 1997 film Contact starring Jodie Foster, the main character discovers an alien communication signal encoded in this type of number.
What are Prime Numbers?
Earning interest on both the principal value invested and on the interest you’ve already accumulated is known as this.
What is Compounding?
Closely resembling a soccer ball, this geometric structure is comprised of interlocking hexagons and pentagons.
What is a buckyball?
Natural objects, such as ferns, often exhibit these patterns of similar structures at smaller and larger scales.
What are fractals?
In calculus, the ∫ symbol represents an _____________________.
What is integral?