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KQED's Forum

Stand-Up Mathematician Matt Parker on Why Triangles are the Best Shape

KQED's Forum

KQED

News Commentary, News, Politics

4.2727 Ratings

🗓️ 20 August 2024

⏱️ 56 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Stand-up comic and mathematician Matt Parker loves triangles, and he wants everyone to appreciate them. Triangles help us calculate distances, the angle of an NBA 3-pointer and a winning billiards shot. They help us plan cities, cut sandwiches optimally and tell us the angle of impact of the asteroid that wiped out Earth’s dinosaurs. “Triangles are everything,” writes Parker, “and everything is triangles.” We talk to Parker about the function –and beauty – of the triangle and his new book “Love Triangle: How Trigonometry Shapes the World.” Guests: Matt Parker, stand-up comedian, mathematician and YouTuber; author, "Love Triangle: How Trigonometry Shapes the World" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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From KQED.

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The... ...were... from KQED in San Francisco, this is Forum.

1:08.5

I'm Mina Kim.

1:09.9

Mathematician and stand-up comic, Matt Parker,

1:13.1

loves triangles and wants everyone to appreciate them, not just their shape, but also what they

1:18.9

can do. Triangles help us calculate distance, planned cities. Chart the angle of impact of the

1:24.6

asteroid that wiped out Earth's dinosaurs, he says. in addition to being the optimal way to cut a sandwich.

...

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