Comments on: Randall Munroe Explains Modeling With Math

By: Dan Meyer

Dan Meyer — Tue, 20 May 2014 22:51:47 +0000

Jim:

Like on Mythbusters, Monroe is rarely content to stop with answering the question as stated: he generally keeps going bigger, faster, taller, or hotter until something explodes.

Ha!

By: Brandon Dorman

Brandon Dorman — Tue, 20 May 2014 17:20:33 +0000

I agree with timfc. I’ve used xkcd comics before with kids – the “My normal approach is useless” one with the math symbols that can’t find love, the one where it shows pi and then in the digits is “help I’m trapped in an alternate universe” etc. Love it. Dan I’ll see you Friday in Fresno!

By: Jim Hays

Jim Hays — Tue, 20 May 2014 17:11:12 +0000

Monroe’s “What if” series does a excellent job of building ‘sequels’. Like on Mythbusters, Monroe is rarely content to stop with answering the question as stated: he generally keeps going bigger, faster, taller, or hotter until something explodes. By the time you see how the pattern grows, he’s piqued your curiosity and hooked you in for the ride.

By: timfc

timfc — Tue, 20 May 2014 01:18:06 +0000

AAAAAH, my two favorite things on the internet are happening in the same place. Now XKCD needs to reference dy/dan and the cycle will be complete.

By: Asa

Asa — Mon, 19 May 2014 23:45:21 +0000

That’s awesome. His thought process is just great.

By: Jason Dyer

Jason Dyer — Mon, 19 May 2014 20:33:37 +0000

I think the bit immediately prior is worth quoting as well, even if it’s a bit harsher:

And I love calculating these kinds of things, and it’s not that I love doing the math. I do a lot of math, but I don’t really like math for its own sake.