Republic of Mathematics blog

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How many zeros are there in 2^n?

Posted by: Gary Ernest Davis on: April 23, 2011

An old problem asks if is the highest power of whose base representation: , does not contain the digit . For instance, the next powers of do indeed contain the digit : x How many zeros? Instead of asking the existential question “Is there a zero in the base representation of for ?” we can […]

Should mathematics teachers tell the truth?

Posted by: Gary Ernest Davis on: April 22, 2011

Adults do not always tell the truth to children. It’s common to let children believe there is a tooth fairy, that Father Christmas brings presents at Christmas time, or that a Golem defended the Jews in Prague. Are there similar tales that mathematics teachers tell children? Does mathematics have fibs, lies, and myths? I will […]