Jordan Ellenberg

Jordan Ellenberg, a mathematician from the University of Wisconsin and author of 'Shape,' explores the fascinating world of geometry and its connection to human experience. He discusses the interplay between creativity and mathematics, emphasizing the beauty of chaos and high-dimensional shapes. Ellenberg shares insights on the relevance of symmetry, the importance of visualization in understanding complex ideas, and the enigma of prime numbers. The conversation touches on artificial intelligence's relationship with mathematics and the philosophical implications of higher dimensions.

Guests Arthur Brooks, Elizabeth Hargrave, Jordan Ellenberg, Mahan Tavakoli, Thi Nguyen, Warren Berger, and Ed Brooks join the Besties to reflect on the best podcasts of 2023. Topics include emotional self-management, prioritizing love and savings, teaching writing and data, financial independence, scoring in games and social media, the value of character, and predictions for 2024.

This week's author, Jordan Ellenberg, discusses the power of mathematical thinking in decision-making, perception, beauty, and art. They also explore challenges in math education, the prevalence of large language models, paths into mathematics, the problematic portrayal of mathematicians in 'A Beautiful Mind,' investing and the golden ratio, the future of chat GPT, and the importance of diverse friendships.

Jordan Ellenberg, a mathematics professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, dives into the quirky world of political polling and its unpredictable nature. He explains how historical trends and randomness shape Senate elections while critiquing flawed predictive models. The discussion touches on adapting beliefs with new information in an ever-changing political climate. Plus, enjoy a whimsical tale of bears in NYC and a humorous anecdote involving RFK Jr., blending absurdity with insightful commentary on fate.

Join Jordan Ellenberg, a mathematics professor known for his insights on algebraic geometry and author of notable books like 'How Not to Be Wrong,' as he delves into the fascinating world of political boundaries. He explains how gerrymandering skews electoral fairness and discusses mathematical techniques like random walks and Markov chains that can help assess the integrity of district maps. Ellenberg also explores the efficiency gap and its implications for true political representation, illustrating how math intersects with democracy.