Information About

Mathemagician




The name "mathemagician" was probably first applied to Martin Gardner , but has since been used to describe many mathematician/magicians, including Art Benjamin Albers, Donald J. "Art Benjamin - Mathemagician." ''Math Horizons'', November 1998, 14-18., Persi Diaconis Albers, Donald J. "Professor of Magic Mathematics." ''Math Horizons'', February 1995, 11-15., and Raymond Smullyan . Diaconis has suggested that the reason so many mathematicians are magicians is that "inventing a magic trick and inventing a theorem are very similar activities."Diaconis, Persi. Quoted in: Albers, Donald J. "Professor of Magic Mathematics." ''Math Horizons'', February 1995, 11-15.

Several fictional characters have also been called mathemagicians, such as Martin Gardner's "Victor Eigen."Gardner, Martin. ''New Mathematical Diversions from "Scientific American." Chicago: University of Chicago Pr., 1984. Additionally, a character in '' The Phantom Tollbooth '' is known only as "The Mathemagician."

A mathemagician, voiced by Hank Azaria was also prominently featured at Martin Prince 's birthday party in the Simpsons episode Grade School Confidential .


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