Fiddler on the Proof

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Reasonable Rankings for College Football: Part II
In response to reader comments, I conclusively demonstrate that CFP rankings ignore home field advantage and scoring margin.
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Zach Wissner-Gross
Happy (Almost) New Year from The Fiddler!
Can you solve two puzzles about the number 2025, which happens to be a perfect square?
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Zach Wissner-Gross
2
Can You Survive “The Floor”?
On a popular game show, contestants challenge each other for territory on a square grid. Does your starting position affect your chances of victory?
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Zach Wissner-Gross
3
Reasonable Rankings for College Football
I've had enough of the subjective rankings in college football. So I'm proposing something better, using math (of course).
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Zach Wissner-Gross
15
Can You Squeeze the Particles Into the Box?
Three repelling particles are confined to a square. How will they arrange so as to minimize their overall energy? What if there are nine particles?
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Zach Wissner-Gross
14

November 2024

Did xkcd Get Its Math Right?
The popular webcomic recently made a joke involving combinatorial mathematics. But did the math actually check out? For Extra Credit, can you find other…
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Zach Wissner-Gross
5
Can You Fold the Hexagon?
The six sections of a regular hexagon are labeled “0” to “5.” How many distinct ways can you fold up the hexagon so section “0” winds up on top?
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Zach Wissner-Gross
9
Can You Figure Out How Magna-Tiles Work?
Sure, they have magnets inside. But arranging these magnets so the tiles always stick nicely together is a puzzle-worthy matter.
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Zach Wissner-Gross
23
Where Will the Sorting Hat Put You?
You’re about to be sorted into one of four wizarding houses, but the magical sorting hat never says the same house twice in a row. What are your chances…
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Zach Wissner-Gross
5
What’s the Area of a “Pseudo-Square”?
Does it have four equal sides? Check. Does it have four right angles? Check. Is it a square? Kinda…
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Zach Wissner-Gross
5

October 2024

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