Arthur T. Benjamin
Encyclopedia
Arthur T. Benjamin is an American mathematician
who specializes in combinatorics
. Since 1989 he has been a Professor of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd College
.
He is known for mental math capabilities and mathemagics
performances. These have included shows at the Magic Castle and TED
. He is also the first mathematician to have been featured on the Colbert Report.
He has a Bachelor of Science with highest honors in Applied Mathematics from Carnegie Mellon University
in 1983, a Master of Science in Engineering in Mathematical Sciences in 1985 and a Doctor of Philosophy from Johns Hopkins University
in 1989; his PhD dissertation was titled "Turnpike Structures for Optimal Maneuvers". During his freshman year at CMU he wrote the lyrics and created the magic effects for the musical comedy, Kije!, in collaboration with author Scott McGregor and composer Arthur Darrell Turner. This musical was the winner of an annual competition and was first performed as the CMU's Spring Musical in 1980.
The Mathematical Association of America
gave him a regional award for distinguished teaching in 1999 and a national one in 2000. He was the Mathematical Association of America
's George Pólya
Lecturer for 2006-8.
He also filmed a series of The Teaching Company
lectures called "The Joy of Mathematics", "Discrete Mathematics"., and "The Secrets of Mental Math".
Dr. Benjamin was one of the performers at the inaugural San Diego Science Festival on April 4, 2009.
Professor Benjamin won the American Backgammon Tour in 1997.
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
who specializes in combinatorics
Combinatorics
Combinatorics is a branch of mathematics concerning the study of finite or countable discrete structures. Aspects of combinatorics include counting the structures of a given kind and size , deciding when certain criteria can be met, and constructing and analyzing objects meeting the criteria ,...
. Since 1989 he has been a Professor of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd College
Harvey Mudd College
Harvey Mudd College is a private residential liberal arts college of science, engineering, and mathematics, located in Claremont, California. It is one of the institutions of the contiguous Claremont Colleges, which share adjoining campus grounds....
.
He is known for mental math capabilities and mathemagics
Mathemagician
A mathemagician is a mathematician who is also a magician.The name "mathemagician" was probably first applied to Martin Gardner, but has since been used to describe many mathematician/magicians, including Arthur T. Benjamin, Persi Diaconis, and Raymond Smullyan...
performances. These have included shows at the Magic Castle and TED
TED (conference)
TED is a global set of conferences owned by the private non-profit Sapling Foundation, formed to disseminate "ideas worth spreading"....
. He is also the first mathematician to have been featured on the Colbert Report.
He has a Bachelor of Science with highest honors in Applied Mathematics from Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
in 1983, a Master of Science in Engineering in Mathematical Sciences in 1985 and a Doctor of Philosophy from Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in 1989; his PhD dissertation was titled "Turnpike Structures for Optimal Maneuvers". During his freshman year at CMU he wrote the lyrics and created the magic effects for the musical comedy, Kije!, in collaboration with author Scott McGregor and composer Arthur Darrell Turner. This musical was the winner of an annual competition and was first performed as the CMU's Spring Musical in 1980.
The Mathematical Association of America
Mathematical Association of America
The Mathematical Association of America is a professional society that focuses on mathematics accessible at the undergraduate level. Members include university, college, and high school teachers; graduate and undergraduate students; pure and applied mathematicians; computer scientists;...
gave him a regional award for distinguished teaching in 1999 and a national one in 2000. He was the Mathematical Association of America
Mathematical Association of America
The Mathematical Association of America is a professional society that focuses on mathematics accessible at the undergraduate level. Members include university, college, and high school teachers; graduate and undergraduate students; pure and applied mathematicians; computer scientists;...
's George Pólya
George Pólya
George Pólya was a Hungarian mathematician. He was a professor of mathematics from 1914 to 1940 at ETH Zürich and from 1940 to 1953 at Stanford University. He made fundamental contributions to combinatorics, number theory, numerical analysis and probability theory...
Lecturer for 2006-8.
He also filmed a series of The Teaching Company
The Teaching Company
The Teaching Company is a Chantilly, Virginia company that produces recordings of lectures by university professors and high-school teachers. It sells the courses in CD, DVD, MPEG-4, and MP3 formats.- Background :...
lectures called "The Joy of Mathematics", "Discrete Mathematics"., and "The Secrets of Mental Math".
Dr. Benjamin was one of the performers at the inaugural San Diego Science Festival on April 4, 2009.
Professor Benjamin won the American Backgammon Tour in 1997.
See also
- Harvey Mudd CollegeHarvey Mudd CollegeHarvey Mudd College is a private residential liberal arts college of science, engineering, and mathematics, located in Claremont, California. It is one of the institutions of the contiguous Claremont Colleges, which share adjoining campus grounds....
- Mathematics
- Child prodigyChild prodigyA child prodigy is someone who, at an early age, masters one or more skills far beyond his or her level of maturity. One criterion for classifying prodigies is: a prodigy is a child, typically younger than 18 years old, who is performing at the level of a highly trained adult in a very demanding...
- Mental calculatorMental calculatorMental calculators are people with a prodigious ability in some area of mental calculation, such as multiplying large numbers or factoring large numbers...
s - Mental calculationMental calculationMental calculation comprises arithmetical calculations using only the human brain, with no help from calculators, computers, or pen and paper. People use mental calculation when computing tools are not available, when it is faster than other means of calculation , or in a competition context...
s - Mental Calculation World CupMental Calculation World Cup-Mental Calculation World Cup 2004:The first Mental Calculation World Cup was held in Annaberg-Buchholz, Germany on 30 October 2004. There were 17 participants from 10 countries.The World Cup involved the following contests :...
External links
- Arthur Benjamin's Home Page
- TED Talks: Arthur Benjamin does "Mathemagic" at TEDTED (conference)TED is a global set of conferences owned by the private non-profit Sapling Foundation, formed to disseminate "ideas worth spreading"....
in 2005