The licence plate of a humble London cab holds the key to understanding some of the most fascinating concepts in mathematics. In 1919, British mathematician G.H. Hardy hopped into his cab with a plate bearing the number 1729, which was later described as dull by Hardy himself but intriguingly so by his colleague Srinivasa Ramanujan.
Ramanujan pointed out that 1729 is an example of a "taxicab number," a term coined to describe numbers that can be expressed as the sum of two cubes in different ways. This notion has captivated mathematicians ever since, and it's now being celebrated through the launch of the UK's first specialist maths secondary school, aptly named the 1729 Maths School.
The school aims to nurture top mathematical talent from an early age, with its first cohorts set to begin in September next year for students aged 11. The institution is backed by maths philanthropists Alex Gerko and Elena, who have pledged bursaries to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
But what makes a number like 1729 so special? For those new to the world of mathematics, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of numbers that defy explanation. Take, for instance, the puzzle known as "Square pair." The challenge is to find the smallest number that can be expressed as the sum of two squares in more than one way.
Another brain-twister on the table involves strips of wood with lengths 1, 2, 7, 17, and 29 centimeters. Can three of these strips be arranged into a triangle? The answer lies not just in the length of the strips but also in understanding how to create geometric shapes using various combinations.
Finally, there's "Sick sixth," which pits five products against an unknown sixth product, each one representing a different mathematical operation. As the final puzzle unfolds, it raises essential questions about the nature of mathematical relationships and how we define these operations.
While solving these puzzles might not be as glamorous as stepping into a London cab, the journey through mathematics reveals intricate patterns and unexpected connections that shape our understanding of the world around us.
Ramanujan pointed out that 1729 is an example of a "taxicab number," a term coined to describe numbers that can be expressed as the sum of two cubes in different ways. This notion has captivated mathematicians ever since, and it's now being celebrated through the launch of the UK's first specialist maths secondary school, aptly named the 1729 Maths School.
The school aims to nurture top mathematical talent from an early age, with its first cohorts set to begin in September next year for students aged 11. The institution is backed by maths philanthropists Alex Gerko and Elena, who have pledged bursaries to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
But what makes a number like 1729 so special? For those new to the world of mathematics, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of numbers that defy explanation. Take, for instance, the puzzle known as "Square pair." The challenge is to find the smallest number that can be expressed as the sum of two squares in more than one way.
Another brain-twister on the table involves strips of wood with lengths 1, 2, 7, 17, and 29 centimeters. Can three of these strips be arranged into a triangle? The answer lies not just in the length of the strips but also in understanding how to create geometric shapes using various combinations.
Finally, there's "Sick sixth," which pits five products against an unknown sixth product, each one representing a different mathematical operation. As the final puzzle unfolds, it raises essential questions about the nature of mathematical relationships and how we define these operations.
While solving these puzzles might not be as glamorous as stepping into a London cab, the journey through mathematics reveals intricate patterns and unexpected connections that shape our understanding of the world around us.
? It's like, super fun to try to figure out how those strips of wood can be arranged into a triangle... in theory, at least 
. But for real though, have you seen the 1729 Maths School website? It looks like a total brain-twister itself, trying to cram all that mathy goodness onto one page 
.
? But what's up with the "taxicab number" name though? Sounds like something out of a math joke 
. Anyway, good luck to all you math whizzes out there trying to solve those puzzles 
!
The Square pair and Sick sixth puzzles sound like total mind-benders – I need to try solving them ASAP! 
And the fact that they're using real-world strips of wood is genius 
. It's all about breaking down complex concepts into bite-sized pieces, you know? 
Mathematics education needs a major revamp, and this school might just be the game-changer we've been waiting for 
! i mean, who wouldn't want to learn about taxicab numbers and square pairs? it's like, math has become so cool 
! i'm actually thinking of donating some templates for their website 
. gotta say, the puzzle section is giving me major "escape room" vibes 
, who else loves brain teasers? 
anyway, bring on the math whizzes of 2025! 
I remember when maths was all about like memorizing formulas and stuff... but now it's more about problem-solving and thinking outside the box 
. 1729 being a "taxicab number" is wild, who knew something as simple as a London cab plate could be so interesting? 
It just goes to show that maths isn't all about theory, there's art in solving problems too 
. I wonder what other secrets are hiding in plain sight... like that puzzle with the strips of wood, can you even imagine trying to figure that out back in my childhood days without Google? 
it's amazing how maths can be so fascinating and complex at the same time 
The puzzles they're talking about? Like, I'm already geeking out over them... "Sick sixth" sounds like the ultimate brain-twister 
. But I gotta ask, have they checked if 1729 is actually just a weird plate number or is it really as cool as everyone says? 
You can't just assume something's special without verifying it first 
.
1729 is like the key that cracked it 
. How do we even know that 1729 is actually an example of a taxicab number? Was it really just a random plate number, or was there some calculation done on that specific plate to verify its uniqueness? And what's the real story behind Ramanujan and Hardy's relationship? 
! It's like, maths is everywhere, you know? And the story behind 1729 is literally so cool... I mean, who wouldn't want a licence plate that unlocks some crazy mathematical secret? 
! Why maths schools should be all about puzzles like "Square pair" 
and "Sick sixth" 
You gotta give props to Alex Gerko and Elena for backing this maths school, though. It's a win-win for our country: we get top-notch math talent and a more competitive workforce 
. But let's not forget, this is just a drop in the ocean compared to what's needed to close the gap between the haves and have-nots 
. We need more bursaries and resources for disadvantaged students, period 
. And what about the maths curriculum itself? Are we focusing on the 'practical' stuff or just perpetuating an elite club of math whizzes? 
.