Heath’s answer—76,257.86 square yards for a 160-yard rope—was an approximation rather than an exact solution. To illustrate the difference, consider the equation x 2 − 2 = 0. One could ...

This column comes with a warning: Do not try to solve this math problem. You will be tempted. This problem is simply stated, easily understood, and all too inviting. Just pick a number, any number: If ...

In 1998, Michael Hoffman, also a Naval Academy mathematician, expanded the problem in a different direction after coming across an example of the exterior problem through an online newsgroup. This ...