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’s a number?
Go beyond the episode:
- Eugenia Cheng’s Beyond Infinity
- And her attempt to teach Stephen Colbert how to make puff pastry
- Natalie Angier’s review of How to Bake Pi (verdict: delicious!)
- Watch an animated explanation of the Infinite Hotel Paradox from TED-Ed
Tune in every week to catch interviews with the liveliest voices from literature, the arts, sciences, history, and public affairs; reports on cutting-edge works in progress; long-form narratives; and compelling excerpts from new books. Hosted by Stephanie Bastek.
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