The Math Club
Episodes
Around the World in 20 Problems: World Math Day 2026
25 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, veteran educator Sheila Robitaille joins Pete and Noah to discuss World Math Day, a global competition for students ages 5 to 18 that...
One More Time: The Oddities of Benford's Law
28 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If we asked all of our listeners to look up the current population of their hometown and email us just the first digit of that number, what do you exp...
Partial Credit: Exploring Luhn's Algorithm
24 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wonder how a website knows your credit card number is "invalid" before you even hit the submit button? In this commando-style holiday epis...
My Favorite Number - Listeners Share Their Favorite Numbers
17 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's a simple question: What's your favorite number? But as Pete and Noah discover in this special episode, the answers are anything but simple—they...
Bonus Material - Math Club Junior: It's a Zoo Out There!
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hey there Math Club. Our most recent episode, Math Club Junior: It's a Zoo Out There, was our second special episode made specifically for kids. ...
Math Club Junior: It's a Zoo Out There
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this long-awaited followup to our popular Math Club Junior episode, Pete and Noah are back with Mrs. Morrison's class, as chaperones on a field t...
Means of Transportation: The Mean Value Theorem and Average Speed Zones
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A family visit to the Netherlands introduces Pete to the idea of average speed zones, which illustrate a particularly interesting mathematical theorem...
Q.E.D.: The Proving of Fermat's Last Theorem
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's finally here! Part Three of the Fermat Trilogy! In this exciting conclusion, Pete and Noah talk about the mathematicians who ultimately prove...
Sophie's Chase: More History of Fermat's Last Theorem
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join us for part two of our deep dive into the history of Fermat's Last Theorem. In this episode, Pete and Noah focus on the fascinating story of So...
Non-trivial Pursuit: The History of Fermat's Last Theorem
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A few episodes back, our hosts talked about the great unsolved mathematical problems of our time, and Pete teased an interesting story about one such ...
The Rules They Are A-Changin': A Conversation with Fluxx Creator Andrew Looney
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Pete and Noah are joined by Andy Looney, the creator of the card game Fluxx, to talk about Math Fluxx and his history designing games...
A Wrinkle in Spacetime: A Mathematical Discussion about Spacetime
12 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you've ever seen a science fiction movie or TV show, then you've heard of the spacetime continuum. But what is it, and is there math that describ...
I Have a Little Bias: The Mathematics of Dreidel
18 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's the holiday season, and Pete and Noah are getting into the festive spirit by looking at the math behind a favorite Hannukah game. Join our host...
Video Bonus: Finding Primo
22 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In our last episode, finding Primo, Pete explained a couple of tests that mathematicians use when trying to decide if very large numbers are prime. We...
Finding Primo: The Search for Very Large Primes
20 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you heard the big news? There's a new largest known prime number, and Noah wants to know how it was discovered. In this episode, Pete explain...
Talkin' 'bout My Generation: A Deep Dive into The Math Club
06 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you ready to revisit the best of The Math Club? Pete and Noah share a trip down memory lane with a pair of special guests. But as they dive de...
Elective Procedures: The Mathematics of Voting Systems
23 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The memory of a restaurant-choosing game from grad school inspires Pete and Noah to look at different voting systems, and the math behind how they wor...
Two Heads are Better Than One: A Counterintuitive Coin Flipping Problem
02 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
An unlikely string of coin flips leads to a conversation about a counterintuive puzzle that Pete found online. Join in on the fun as Pete and Noah d...
Mini Series
18 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hey Math Club... Pete and Noah need your help with a data mystery, so they put this mini-episode together. If you think you have any info that can...
Houston, We Have Some Problems: Currently Unsolved Math Questions
11 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Unsolved. From the origin of Stonehenge, to the identity of Jack the Ripper, to the location of all those missing dryer socks, the world is full of ...
Making it Count: An Interview with MATHCOUNTS
28 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Pete's efforts to help Noah prepare for an upcoming math competition lead to a conversation with Kristen Chandler, the executive director of MATHCOUNT...
Hire Order Thinking: Exploring Optimal Stopping Theory
14 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A batch of almost perfect waffles leads Pete and Noah into an exploration of an interesting probability result. Come find out how, whether you're ea...
Double Dealing: The Mathematics of Deal or No Deal, Part 2
17 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's time for our second episode about the mathematics of Deal or No Deal. At the end of Part 1, Noah asked Pete if The Banker follows certain set r...
What's the Deal?: The Mathematics of Deal or No Deal
19 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The recent return of this classic game show prompts Pete and Noah to discuss the probability and statistics at work, to see if they can figure out wha...
A Mathematician Walks Into a Bar: A Celebration of Math Jokes
24 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's The Math Club's second anniversary, and what better way to celebrate than by telling a bunch of math jokes? Join us as we share our favorites, ...
Leaving Flatland: A Discussion About Higher Spatial Dimensions
06 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How many dimensions does a sphere have? If you said three (like Noah did), you may be surprised to hear that you overshot. In this episode, Pete a...
Rooty Tooty: Calculating Square Roots by Hand
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A family movie night reminds Pete of an ancient algorithm for calculating square roots, so it's back to The Math Club with pencils and paper in hand. ...
Math Club Encore: So Many Birds
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hey there, Math Club. We're taking some time off to spend the holidays with our families, so this week we have a rerun of last year's holiday episod...
Math Club Encore: Tales from Decrypt
29 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hey there, Math Club. We're taking some time off to spend the holidays with our families, so we have a rerun of one of our favorite episodes this we...
Video Bonus: Hip to be Square
17 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In our last episode, Hip to be Square. Pete told us about two famous magic squares—the Sagrada Família magic square and the Dürer magic square—a...
Hip to be Square: Investigating Magic Squares
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ever heard of a magic square? How about 17 quintillion magic squares? In this episode, Pete and Noah explore these fascinating mathematical objects to...
Video Bonus: Linear Thinking
03 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In our last episode, Linear Thinking, Pete mentioned that one practical application of linear algebra is in the field of urban planning and traffic fl...
Linear Thinking: A Puzzle Involving a Linear System of Equations
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Pete and Noah tackle an "unsolvable math problem" that appeared in a recent Newsweek article (Spoiler: It's not that unsolvable). Joi...
MathGPT: Can AI Do Math?
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Pete and Noah explore the question, "Can AI do math?" Armed with several boxes of Chicken McNuggets, they put ChatGPT to the test, sc...
A Tactical Advantage: An interview about Fact Tactics with Dr. Juli Dixon
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A somewhat traumatic memory about fifth grade timed multiplication tests inspires Pete and Noah to have a conversation with Dr. Juli Dixon, author of ...
Dome Sweet Dome: Exploring Geodesic Structures
20 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What do you get if you cross 11,520 isosceles triangles with the happiest place on Earth? The Epcot ball, of course, which is perhaps the most famous ...
The Elevator and the Fencepost: Zero-Based Counting
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Pete is back, and Noah is eager to hear about his trip and record a new episode about an interesting bit of European math. Join us for some zero-bas...
A Math Workout: An Interview with the Mathnasium
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We've spoken with previous guests about classroom math instruction, as well as how to help students with learning disabilities in mathematics. But w...
We Love the Subs: Using Substitution in Math
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, the search for a temporary co-host to sub for Pete turns into a conversation about mathematical substitutions. Join Noah and (the o...
Those Who Can, Teach: A Conversation about Mathematics Instruction
26 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With Pete away on vacation, Noah invites a panel of educators over for a lively conversation about mathematics instruction. Join us as the panel dis...
I, Conic: What are Conic Sections?
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
An idea for a new ice cream treat leads Pete and Noah to discuss the different conic sections that can be created by intersecting a cone with a plane ...
Made to Order: PEMDAS and the Order of Operations
28 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You've probably seen people arguing on social media about memes that say: "Only a true genius will get this one right", followed by a simple looking e...
Video Bonus: Cool Beans
15 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In our last episode, Pete walked Noah through a calculation (using Newton's Law of Cooling) to predict what the temperature of a hot cup of water woul...
Cool Beans: An Experiment with Newton's Law of Cooling
14 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After Pete spills a cup of hot coffee, he and Noah conduct an experiment to test Newton's Law of Cooling, a physical law that describes the rate at wh...
Model Behavior: What is the Petrie Multiplier?
31 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever engaged in some friendly smack-talk during a sporting event? In this episode, Pete and Noah are on the receiving end of a lot of teasing...
Math Problems: An Interview with Anneke Schreuder about Dyscalculia
17 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We all know people who describe themselves as "not a math person". For many of them it's not simply a preference, but a neurological condition. In...
One, Singular Sensation: The Role of 1 in Ring Theory
03 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Beach Boys are famous for "getting around", but do you know that the number one gets around a lot, too? In this episode, one takes center stage ...
Paradox City
19 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Happy birthday… to us! The Math Club is one year old today, and Pete and Noah are celebrating with a fun-filled discussion of the birthday paradox...
Your Mileage May Vary: Miles per Gallon vs. Gallons per Mile
05 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How much do you think you spent on gas when you took your last road trip? If you live in the United States, chances are that would make you think ab...
Divergent Thinking: Working with Divergent Series
22 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If we gave you a bunch of positive whole numbers and asked what you get when you add them all up, you'd have a pretty easy time of it... you are The...
Proof of Concept: A Discussion about Mathematical Proofs
08 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you ever took a geometry class, you probably had to do some mathematical proofs. From the ancient Greeks to modern day mathematicians, proofs hav...
The Unprofessional Math Development Club
22 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week Pete and Noah team up with Shane and Mealey from the Unprofessional Development podcast, a show that features guests from the world of educa...
Math Like an Egyptian: Exploring Egyptian Fractions
08 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When you think about parts of a whole, you probably picture fractions that consist of a numerator and a denominator. But that's not how all cultures...
Game Changer: Our History with the Monty Hall Problem
25 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In September of 1990, Parade Magazine columnist Marilyn vos Savant answered a reader's question about a mathematical brain teaser, and received quite ...
Math Club Junior: An Interactive Math Story for Elementary Students
11 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is a special math adventure for younger listeners. Pete and Noah are called into school to help with all of the mathy details around a ...
You Say You Want a Revolution: What is Gabriel's Horn
14 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Noah comes to Pete for some help with a really big paint job. After Pete explains just how big (and impossible) the job really is, ...
So Many Birds: Counting The Twelve Days of Christmas with Karl Gauss
30 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Season's Greetings, Math Club! With the holidays on the horizon, a famous song leads Pete and Noah to talk about strategies for adding up long seque...
Imagining Numbers: The Quaternions and Other Number Systems
16 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In our last episode, Pete explained to Noah that imaginary numbers aren't so imaginary after all. This time around, he shows Noah how all the other nu...
Math Complex: What are Imaginary Numbers?
02 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Imaginary numbers. We've all heard about them, but… what are they? Why are they imaginary? And what can we do with them? In this episode,...
Getting Into Shape: Topological Deformations
19 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Noah's having trouble with an old game from his childhood until Pete saves the day by tackling the twisty turns of topology. From don...
Oh, For the Love of Math: An Interview with Dan Finkel of Math for Love
05 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Pete and Noah are joined by Dan Finkel, founder of Math for Love and co-creator of the award winning game, Prime Climb. Listen in a...
Tales from Decrypt: Substitution Ciphers and Frequency Analysis
21 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today's match-up answers the age-old question of what happens when an unstoppable brain meets an unbreakable cipher. In the red corner, weighing in ...
Pi-lot: Approximating Pi
07 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Surprise!!! Pete needs some more time with the codebreaking challenge, so this week we're giving you a previously unaired bonus episode from The Mat...
Video Bonus: Key Ideas
25 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Yesterday's episode explored the Diffie-Hellman Key Exchange algorithm, including a section in which Pete and Noah came up with a valid generator for ...
Key Ideas: Cryptography and the Diffie-Hellman Key Exchange
24 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you use the internet, you rely on mathematical algorithms to securely transmit your private data over public networks. In this episode, Noah descri...
Breaking News: Noah and Alexa Analyze Pete's Fall
10 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Pete's out with a broken leg, so Noah and Alexa use math to investigate the mathematics of his skateboarding accident. Listen in as they talk about ...
Discovery vs. Invention: Where Does Math Come From?
27 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Math always seems so objective, with little room for debate. In other fields there are sometimes huge disagreements among experts. But what about ...
Ad Infinitum: Exploring Infinity
13 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Infinity. Most kids first learn about this neverending concept when double and triple jinx don't seem to do enough anymore. There are infinity poo...
Video Bonus: Positive Thinking
30 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Yesterday's episode dove into the numbers around a positive test result that is 99% accurate, when 1 in 100 people have a specific condition. The re...
Positive Thinking: Conditional Probability, Bayes' Theorem, and the Base-Rate Fallacy
29 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Noah's certain that he has a disease because he tested positive on a test that's 99% accurate. Does that mean he almost certainly h...
Video Bonus: Gleaming the Cube
16 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In our last episode, Pete asked us to envision the rotational symmetry of a square as a way to simplify the same concept as it applies to the Rubik's ...
Gleaming the Cube: The Mathematics of the Rubik's Cube
15 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Lots of us have played with a Rubik's Cube at one time or another, but did you know this simple little toy is chock full of math? Join Pete and Noah...
Prime Time: Prime Numbers and The Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic
01 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You've heard about two-factor authentication, but have you heard about two-factor numbers? Of course you have! They're called primes, and in this epis...
Thinking Outside the Box: Newcomb's Paradox
18 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Pete and Noah provide opposing viewpoints on how to respond to a classic mathematical paradox. • Game Theory and Strategy - Tex...
Triple Play: Investigating Pythagorean Triples
04 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Pete and Noah discuss right triangles, pythagorean triples, and why the Scarecrow's brain might not be all it was cracked up to be. ...
Video Bonus: Much Ado About Nothing
27 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes you just have to break out the ol' manipulatives and visual aides. Here's a video bonus to help clarify the von Neumann construction that ...
Much Ado About Nothing: The Role of Zero in Math
20 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to The Math Club! In this, our inaugural episode, we start at the origin of all things: Zero. Join us as we explore the special role zero play...