1.19.2011

A mathematical.... painting!


We propose an artistic-mathematical challenge.

In this painting, realized in the late 1800s, a lesson of math is represented.

The teacher asked his students to do this operation in their minds:



I'll tell you that the answer is 2, now you need to find:
1 which property of these numbers could have been used to solve this hard calculation in your head
2 if this is the only series of 5 consecutive terms that has this property
3 the name and the artist of the painting and to which real character it's referred

Have fun!
I invite you to propose other artistic-mathematical games!


The Greek team found an interesting parallel to the beautiful paining.
Here is a photo from the Zosimaia Academy in the town of Yannina in Greece showing a trigonometry class. Note that there is a girl among the boys, too. We are guessing the photo is early 20th century.


Here is a nice Maths lesson we found, the boy looks a bit overwhelmed, does he not?
Photo © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

4 comments:

  1. A nice painting and a nice riddle, not very easy! We are already working on it! Thank you!

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  2. Its a great painting i think that is a masterpiece!!!Nikos Litsas,from the greek team

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  3. thanks to the Greek team for the nice picture!

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  4. Here is one from us, too. Do your students look like this sometimes? During tests, maybe? :)

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