But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids Who created math problems?
Jul 11, 2025
Join Melania Alvarez, an outreach coordinator at the University of British Columbia, as she dives into the fascinating world of mathematics. She answers quirky questions like why one plus one equals two and the concept of infinity. Listeners will enjoy a fun chicken puzzle that showcases critical thinking in math. Melania emphasizes the emotional journey of problem-solving, the real-life significance of math, and encourages everyone to embrace their inner mathematician. Tune in for some delightful math insights and strategies!
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Math Is Invented and Discovered
- Math grew over thousands of years as many cultures invented numbers to solve real problems.
- Math is both invented by humans and discovered as a truth in the world.
Understanding Place Value
- Place value system defines how numbers like 11 differ from 1 plus 1 equals 2.
- The position of digits determines their actual value in a number.
Numbers and Infinity
- Numbers go on forever because for any number you can always add one more.
- Infinity can also describe infinitely small steps that never quite reach an endpoint.