St Albans U3A

The aim of this group is to explore interesting and fun topics in mathematics, suitable for those who are (or were!) generally comfortable with A-level maths (or similar).  We try to include a variety of maths (pure, applied, historical, recreational), a range of sessions (presentation of a topic, discussion of a web talk, a practical workshop), with as much discussion and interaction as possible.  We also regularly attempt maths problems circulated to the group, and then discuss them at the next meeting.

If you are interested in joining this group, have ideas about the group, or know of others who might be interested, please email the group organisers (top right buttons).  You need to be logged in to do this.

Some past and possible future topics (more are welcome!): Properties of prime numbers; Pythagorean triples; The history and properties of pi; Definitions of ‘e’ and its properties; Euclid’s axioms; The different centres of triangles; Continued fractions; Pascal’s triangle; Complex numbers and Euler’s identity; Discussion of a web talk, or web article; Discussion of an interesting article (e.g. from Teaching Mathematics, Scientific American); Mathematics in music, art, astronomy, physics, statistics; Archimedean polyhedra; Tessellations of the plane; Möbius strips; The golden section; How to create a Sudoku puzzle.

Group organisers: Simon Thompson, Andrew Apps