Vampire Statistics and Other Mathematical Oddities

Abstract

The world tends to trust mathematicians and their numbers. By exten-sion, the numbers generated by polls and surveys command much respect,sometimes beyond their deserved due. Thus, when an especially juicy statis-tic enters the public consciousness, it can take on a life of its own, long afternew data superseded the old survey and should have driven a stake throughits heart. Cathy Kessel covers one such story in her report “Rumors of OurRarity are Greatly Exaggerated: Bad Statistics about Women in Science”.This summer issue covers a wide range of topics. Susan D’Agostino turnsto Polya’s text How to Solve It to tackle a tricky problem: creating a newmajor in mathematics that is relevant in today’s world. Ilhan Izmirli gives usan overview of how culture affects our basic views of what constitutes mathe-matical knowledge. Meanwhile Sue VanHattum presents a personal, in-depthlook at how mathematical problems actually get solved, and Kris Green con-templates how the teaching of mathematical thinking could impact publicunderstanding of evolution. JoAnne Growney provides a friendly yet briefaccount of the diversity of the mathematical blogosphere and other onlineresources. Reuben Hersh presents a profile of Alvin White, the founder of ourpredecessor journal, the Humanistic Mathematics Network Journal.Marjorie Senechal reviews a book containing the non-mathematical writingsof another hero of the JHM editorial staff: prominent activist, writer, andmathematician Chandler Davis. We also have a review of Joe Mazur’s What’sLuck Got to Do with It? written by Michael Lugo, and some fantastic math-ematical poetry, by Sarah Glaz, Florin Diacu, and Mari-Lou Rowley. Theshort story “Final Exam” by Robert Dawson wraps up this issue.We hope you enjoy our sophomore effort!