ChapterZero

Somewhere, somewhen, (maybe on alt.math, or some other newsgroup) I recall someone making the comment that tv producers have made a show about every profession… except mathematics. That seems to have changed, with the new CBS show Numbers, that starts this January. The premise is that a mathematician helps his brother at the FBI find killers. Sound bites: “people lie, numbers don’t”, “I can design an equation that shows hotspots [where people will be killed?]”. Seems kind of hokey— but at least it isn’t just CSI with math added. Maybe it will something like the Fox? show John Doe; that was a good show, even if it wasn’t about a mathematician.

Possibly relevant posts:

• Optimization and Armstrong modulation (11/15/2005)
• The final answer to the question “What is mathematics good for?” (1/5/2008)
• On UCB (5/21/2004)