Hi, this is Ira Flato, and you're listening to Science Friday.

Today on the show, understanding the math used to make maps.

Every single map we create is distorted in some way.

It's not a perfect representation of the earth.

You know, your common everyday map can be quite confusing and, well, just inaccurate.

Greenland, for example, is shown to be about the same size as South America, when in fact,

South America is really eight times larger.

Then again, most of us take for granted how maps are designed.

After all, we've got a pretty good map in our pockets at all times, ready to show us

turn-by-turn directions to get anywhere on the globe.

But to make a map useful, you have to decide what to leave out and what to keep in,

and most importantly, which mathematical equations to use.

And beyond navigating from point A to point B, maps are used for a wide variety of things,

like the most efficient route to deliver a package, calculating the depth of the ocean floor, and understanding

the drawbacks of the Mercator projection. Joining me now to take us on a journey through the math

fundamental to all kinds of maps is my guest. Dr. Polina Rovinska, mathematician, writer,

science journalist, and author of the book Mathematicsics, how we navigate the world through numbers.

She's based in New York City.

Paulina, welcome to Science Friday.

Hello, thank you for the invitation.

You're welcome.

Can I begin with my pet peeve about how you get into trouble turning a three-dimensional thing like the Earth into a two-dimensional image, a map.

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