Short Wave How To Bake Pi, Mathematically (And Deliciously)
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Mar 14, 2023 Eugenia Cheng, a renowned mathematician and author, dives into the delicious world where baking meets mathematics. Celebrating Pi Day, she shares a clotted cream recipe that illustrates the beauty of process and creativity in both fields. Eugenia argues that cooking demystifies mathematical concepts, inviting listeners to see math as an art form rather than a constraint. She critiques traditional education’s emphasis on testing, advocating for a more engaging approach to learning that inspires curiosity in mathematics.
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Clotted Cream & Math
- Eugenia Cheng links baking and math since childhood, learning from her mom that baking isn't solely about ingredients.
- Her book starts with a one-ingredient clotted cream recipe, emphasizing the process.
Math as Transformation
- Eugenia Cheng views pure mathematics as a process of transformation, similar to baking.
- It's not about the ingredients themselves, but how they're manipulated and changed.
Puff Pastry Math
- Eugenia Cheng engaged Stephen Colbert in folding a 4,000-layer puff pastry.
- This demonstrated how simple mathematical principles can create complex and delicious results.
