Average amount of chocolate consumed by Australians during their lifetime: 800kg; of soft drink: 5,500 litres.
John
S. Courcher
Professor of Statistics, Macquarie University
You want to go out two consecutive nights of a three-day weekend. Permission for each night is obtained (or denied) by asking either mum or dad. Dad is known to be more likely to grant permission. However if the same parent is asked on 2 consecutive days the answers are never the same 2 days running. Who should you ask?
(Answer)
Predicted average age at marriage for girls born today (2001): 40 years; for boys born today (2001): 42 years.
John
S. Croucher
Professor of Statistics, Macquarie University
Picasso in Pixels
...
Dr Cameron Jones at Swinburne University
has combined mathematics with imagination and come up with some pretty
exciting stuff. He's put together an exhibition of digital art called
Digital Dimensions. The exhibition is based on real scientific data and
shows what a combination of computers, graphics and mathematics can do.
"My aim ... is to expose an audience to the power of science and the importance
of mathematics that underpins nearly everything that we do," Dr Jones
said. Take
a look at some of his work.
Most drinking straws (diameter 6.4 millimetres) held in a mouth for 10 seconds: 210.
John
S. Croucher
Professor of Statistics, Macquarie University
Are
you Psychic?
(or is there some clever maths behind the crystal ball?)
Temperature of the coldest spot in the universe (Boomerang nebula): minus 2720C; distance from Earth: 5000 light-years.
John
S. Croucher
Professor of Statistics, Macquarie University
An Ancient Riddle ...
When first the marriage knot was tied between my wife and me,
Her age did mine as far exceed, as three plus three exceeds three;
But when three years and half three years we man and wife had been
Our ages were in ratio then as twelve is to thirteen.
How old were they on their wedding day?
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