The National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) Presents
“The Math of Summer,”
a Public Event That Explains the Math That Gives the Sizzle to Summer and Makes It Possible for Us to Head to the Beach, Hike Outdoors and Picnic in Parks
Tuesday, July 9 at 6:30 pm
New York, NY (July 2, 2019): The National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) presents “The Math of Summer,” a public event that explains the math that gives the sizzle to summer and makes it possible for us to head to the beach, hike outdoors and picnic in parks on Tuesday, July 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Museum, located at 11 East 26th Street.
Except for life at the very bottom of the oceans, every creature on Earth experiences the seasons. Through simple mathematical reasoning, MoMath’s Dean of Academic Content and Professor of Mathematics at Rutgers University Alex Kontorovich will examine the mathematics of the universe and reveal how the calculations of the positions of the sun, moon, and planets cause the Earth’s seasons to change. He will also explore the math behind what caused Earth’s axis to tilt; explain why New Yorkers experience summer at one time of year and winter at another; and discuss how some of our favorite summer activities are made possible because of math.
“We are very excited to have Alex Kontorovich come to MoMath to share his expertise about the mathematical beauty behind why we enjoy summer in the city,” said Cindy Lawrence, CEO and Executive Director of MoMath. “Math is all around us – even a part of our experience of summer itself when we’re out having fun at the beach or in a park.”
“Today we can imagine learning a lot about the Earth just by sending rockets into space and having them report back their locations and images over time,” explains Kontorovich. “But long before this technology existed, mankind discovered so much about its home planet from basic thought experiments in mathematics. The basic trigonometry developed to handle these tasks is, at its core, the art of measuring that which cannot be touched.”
About the National Museum of Mathematics
MoMath, the only math museum in North America, is located at 11 East 26th Street on the northside of popular Madison Square Park in Manhattan and is open seven days a week, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. For more information, visit momath.org.
