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Math as Art and Recreation (Peter Kagey, HMC)
January 31 @ 4:15 pm - 5:30 pm
Title: Math as Art and Recreation
Speaker: Peter Kagey, HMC
Abstract: Recreational Mathematics is an area of math which is rooted in exploration and playfulness, and includes puzzles, games, art, and more. This talk takes a closer look at these ideas, emphasizing how a foundation of curiosity and play can lead to insightful connections with various branches of mathematics, fostering a deeper appreciation for both the beauty and the enjoyment inherent in mathematics. Illustrating this, I will describe how a question from Martin Gardner ultimately led to theorems in group theory and combinatorics, demonstrating the unexpected bridges that can be built between recreational puzzles and deeper mathematical concepts.
Peter Kagey is a Visiting Assistant Professor from Harvey Mudd College. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California in 2022. Since 2019, he has been an Associate Editor with the On-Line Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences. His research interests include combinatorics and algebra, along with discrete, experimental, and recreational mathematics. He is passionate about cultivating a culture of joy, curiosity, and care in the mathematics community.