#42: To Infinity (and Beyond!)
We revisit an interview with Eugenia Cheng, the author of How to Bake Pi, who translates higher math using metaphors that even the most mathematically disinclined can comprehend: infinite layers of puff pastry, endless jars of marmalade, and deep-dish pi(e). She talks about the false dichotomy between mathematics and art, and how understanding math helps you see the world in a new light. Also, how five-year-olds sometimes pose the most difficult questions for mathematicians to answer, like: what\u2019s a number?
Go beyond the episode:
- Eugenia Cheng\u2019s Beyond Infinity
- And her attempt to teach Stephen Colbert how to make puff pastry
- Natalie Angier\u2019s review of How to Bake Pi (verdict: delicious!)
- Watch an animated explanation of the Infinite Hotel Paradox from TED-Ed
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