Arthur T. Benjamin
Arthur T. Benjamin | |
|---|---|
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |
| Alma mater | |
| Known for | Mental mathematics feats, Combinatorics, "Mathemagic" |
| Awards | American Backgammon Tour Player of the Year 1997 |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mathematics, combinatorics |
| Institutions | Harvey Mudd College |
| Doctoral advisor | Alan J. Goldman |
Arthur T. Benjamin (born March 19, 1961) is an American mathematician who specializes in combinatorics. Since 1989 he has been a professor of mathematics at Harvey Mudd College, where he is the Smallwood Family Professor of Mathematics.[1]
He is known for
Education
Benjamin earned a Bachelor of Science with highest honors in applied mathematics at Carnegie Mellon University in 1983. He then went on to receive a Master of Science in Engineering in 1985 and a Doctor of Philosophy in 1989 in mathematical sciences at Johns Hopkins University. His PhD dissertation was titled "Turnpike Structures for Optimal Maneuvers", and was supervised by Alan J. Goldman.[2]
During his freshman year at CMU he wrote the lyrics and created the magic effects for the musical comedy, Kije!, in collaboration with author Scott McGregor and composer Arthur Darrell Turner. This musical was the winner of an annual competition and was first performed as the CMU's Spring Musical in 1980.[3]
Career
Academic
Benjamin held several mathematics positions while attending university, including stints with the
Mathemagics
Benjamin has long had an interest in
Benjamin regularly performs his Mathemagics program for live audiences at schools, colleges, conferences, and even at
He was also featured in Mathemagics, a multimedia disc released for the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer in 1994, which consists largely of short demonstrations and lessons by Benjamin in mental math and Mathemagics.[8]
Awards and honors
- American Backgammon Tour Player of the Year, 1997[9]
- Fellow of the Institute of Combinatorics and its Applications, 2000[2]
- Haimo Distinguished Teaching Award, Mathematical Association of America, 2000[2]
- CHOICE Award, Outstanding Academic Title, for Proofs that Really Count: The Art of Combinatorial Proof, American Library Association, 2004[2]
- Designated "America's Best Math Whiz" by Reader's Digest, May 2005[2]
- Beckenbach Book Prize, for Proofs that Really Count, Mathematical Association of America, 2006[2]
- George Pólya Lecturer, Mathematical Association of America, 2006-2008[2]
- Selected by The Princeton Review as one of The Best 300 Professors, 2012[2]
Media
Benjamin has appeared in three TED Talks. The first, in 2005, was a demonstration of his Mathemagics show. The second, in 2009, was a plea for improved math education in schools. The third, in 2013, was about the way the
Benjamin hosted lectures in
He has appeared on numerous television programs throughout the years, including a notable performance on the Colbert Report in 2010. He has been profiled in over 100 articles in periodicals such as
Bibliography
- Benjamin, Arthur T.; Shermer, Michael (1991). Teach Your Child Math: Making Math Fun for the Both of You. New York: McGraw Hill. ISBN 0737301341.
- Benjamin, Arthur T.; Shermer, Michael (1993). Mathemagics: How to Look like a Genius Without Really Trying. New York: McGraw Hill. ISBN 0929923545.
- Benjamin, Arthur T.; ISBN 0883853337.
- Benjamin, Arthur T.; Shermer, Michael (2006). Secrets of Mental Math: The Mathemagician's Guide to Lightning Calculation and Amazing Math Tricks. New York: Random House. ISBN 0307338401.
- Benjamin, Arthur T.; ISBN 978-0883853405.
- Benjamin, Arthur T. (2015). The Magic of Math: Solving for x and Figuring Out Why. New York: Basic Books. ISBN 978-0465054725.
See also
References
- ^ Mathematics Faculty at HMC, archived from the original on 2017-06-06, retrieved 2015-09-04.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Curriculum Vitae: Arthur T. Benjamin". Harvey Mudd College. Archived from the original on 13 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
- ^ "Kije! A Musical Fairy Tale". Archived from the original on April 20, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-15.
- ^ "Professor Arthur T. Benjamin - Audio & Video Lectures". The Great Courses. The Learning Company. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
- ^ Brown, Christopher (20 March 2011). "MTS: Meet Arthur Benjamin". Meet the Skeptics!. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
- ^ "Recent & Upcoming Performances". Arthur Benjamin: The Art of Mental Calculation. Harvey Mudd College. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
- ^ "Arthur Benjamin Does Mathemagic". TED Talks. TED. December 2007. Archived from the original on 13 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
- ^ "Mathemagics". GamePro. No. 70. IDG. May 1995. p. 131.
- ^ "1997 American Backgammon Tour". American Backgammon Tour. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
- ^ "Arthur Benjamin". TED Talks. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
- ^ "The Great Courses".
- ^ "Media & Video". Arthur Benjamin, Mathemagician. Harvey Mudd College. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
External links
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
| Other | |