The Mathematical Explorer

Stan Wagon (Macalester College) and Paul Wellin (Wolfram Research)

The Mathematical Explorer is a new Wolfram Research stand-alone product that uses Mathematica to introduce the general public to some central ideas of modern mathematics. Creating the product combined work across several areas: the use of a custom kernel, the creation of packages for advanced functions, and the integration of historical documents and images relevant to the mathematics. For example, the chapter on the Four-Color theorem includes a copy of the original 1852 document in which the theorem was first presented, a discussion of the ideas of Kempe’s false proof of 1879 and the correct proof of 1976, access to functions that create and color maps, as well as images and biographies of many of the mathematicians involved in this problem. 

This talk will give a survey of the topics included in The Mathematical Explorer (Riemann Hypothesis, Diophantine equations and Fermat’s Last Theorem, calculus, computation of π, Escher’s art, cryptography, and more) and briefly describe the technical aspects of creating such a product.

Introduction (Paul, 3 minutes)

A very brief general introduction to the project:

Development Team (Paul, 3 minutes)

Describe development effort from WRI’s perspective (briefly) and introduce team;

Content Development (Stan, 5 minutes)

Demonstration of Product (Stan, 25-30 minutes)

New Markets (Paul, 5 minutes)

Discussion of markets we are trying to tap into (during this segment, put www.wolfram.com/explorer on screen):

Reviews, articles, product announcements in the works for:

Distribution