Column

  1. Math

    Troublesome Weather Trends

    Unlike the day or year, the week isn’t tied to any naturally recurring phenomenon. When meteorologists detect a trend that follows a weekly rhythm, they suspect that human activities–and the 5-day work week–are responsible. In 1998, researchers at Arizona State University in Tempe reported that daily oceanic rainfall shows a weekly precipitation cycle across a […]

    By Ivars Peterson
  2. Math

    Troublesome Weather Trends

    Unlike the day or year, the week isn’t tied to any naturally recurring phenomenon. When meteorologists detect a trend that follows a weekly rhythm, they suspect that human activities–and the 5-day work week–are responsible. In 1998, researchers at Arizona State University in Tempe reported that daily oceanic rainfall shows a weekly precipitation cycle across a […]

    By Ivars Peterson
  3. Math

    Testing for Divisibility

    The crisp new dollar bill that I have just taken from my wallet bears the serial number 24598176.