Karim Ani dedicated his life to math. He studied it in school, got a degree in math education, even founded Citizen Math (www.citizenmath.com) to teach it to kids in a whole new way. But, this whole time, his whole life, almost, he had this question nagging at him.
The question came in the form of a rule in math, NEVER divide by zero. But, why not?
Cornell mathematician, and friend of the show, Steve Strogatz, chimes in with the historical context, citing examples of previous provocateurs looking to break the rules of math. And he offers Karim a warning,
“In math we have creative freedom, we can do anything we want, as long as it’s logical.”
Listen along as Karim’s thought exercise becomes an existential quest, taking us with him, as he delves deeper, and deeper, into Zeroworld.
EPISODE CREDITS:
Reported by - Lulu Miller
Produced by - Matthew Kielty
with help from - Ekedi Fausther-Keys, Alyssa Jeong Perry
Original music and sound design contributed by - Matthew Kielty
with mixing help from - Arianne Wack
Fact-checking by - Diane Kelly
and Edited by - Pat Walters
Our newsletter comes out every Wednesday. It includes short essays, recommendations, and details about other ways to interact with the show. Sign up (https://radiolab.org/newsletter)!
Radiolab is supported by listeners like you. Support Radiolab by becoming a member of The Lab (https://members.radiolab.org/) today.
Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @radiolab, and share your thoughts with us by emailing radiolab@wnyc.org.
Leadership support for Radiolab’s science programming is provided by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Science Sandbox, a Simons Foundation Initiative, and the John Templeton Foundation. Foundational support for Radiolab was provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
The Internet Dilemma
Right to be Forgotten
Little Black Holes Everywhere
The Right Stuff
The Fellowship of the Tree Rings
Man Against Horse
The Cataclysm Sentence
Americanish
Beware the Sand Striker
Eye in the Sky
The Seagulls
On the Edge
Family People
The War on Our Shore
Ologies: Dark Matters
The Golden Rule
Corpse Demon
Abortion Pills, Take Two
The Library of Alexandra
The Good Samaritan
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
This American Life
Planet Money
99% Invisible
Freakonomics Radio
The Indicator from Planet Money