Math Trek Math

Calculating Dogs

By Ivars Peterson

- More than 2 years ago

It all started with Elvis.

Elvis playing fetch at the beach. Courtesy of Tim Pennings

Paths to the ball. Shoreline distance AC = z; perpendicular distance to target BC = x; DC = y; AB = w.

In 2003, mathematician Tim Pennings of Hope College in Holland, Mich., revealed to the world that his Welsh corgi, Elvis, appears to be solving a calculus problem when finding the optimal path to fetch a ball.