Program by Activity

Within the framework of the festival, on Saturday 9 May will take place the Olimpíada de Mayo (May Olympiad), sponsored and promoted by the Federación Iberoamericana de Competiciones Matemáticas (Ibero-American Federation of Mathematics Competitions).

The objectives of the May Olympiad include: spotting, encouraging and challenging students with a flair for mathematics in Ibero-American countries; fostering bonds of friendship and global cooperation between Ibero-American students and teachers; and stimulating and supporting participation in activities related to the mathematical Olympiad, not only of countries taking part in the May Olympiad, but also of other countries in Ibero-America.

The competition consists of two levels: the first level for youngsters up to age 13, and the second level for youngsters up to age 15. Each test comprises five problems to be solved within three hours.

Argentine participants of the 2009 edition of the May Olympics are those who made it to the final stages of the Argentinian Mathematical Olympiad and Ñandú Mathematical Olympiad in 2008. The participants take a test and those who get the top ten marks in each level will be selected to be considered the Argentine official participants of the Olympiad.

The distinctions to the best performances are the Honour Diplomas symbolising Bronze, Silver and Gold Medals. These diplomas are granted on the basis of the general level of the tests taken by official participants from all the countries. In each country in particular, in each level, there cannot be more than one Gold Medal, nor can there be more than three medals adding up the Gold and Silver Medals, or more than seven medals in total. There will also be Merit Recognitions for official participants who do not garner any medal but who get top marks in a given problem.

For Argentina, the May Olympiad represents the first opportunity for students to compete at an international level, especially to assess themselves in comparison with each other and with their peers from other countries. This Olympiad is a first step towards “The” Olympiad. For that is its very aim: to serve as a stepping stone to reach by the age of 18 the major competition: the International Mathematical Olympiad.

The time and place of these activities will be informed daily at the Meeting Point.

These mathematical challenges will provide concrete materials for the participants to experiment with (“trial and error”) until they can solve the given problem.

For those who really enjoy getting (literally!) into games, or those who prefer to watch from a distance before taking the plunge, there will be many giant-size mathematical games. Some of which are:

Pan y Queso

Bridg-it

Board games consist of strategy games, some of which for players to think on their own and some others to compete with other participants.

The following are some of them:

Caballitos del Diablo (Damselflies) (1 player)

Mancala (2 players)

Arrimando al 5000 (3 or 4 players)

By Pablo Coll and Pablo Milrud

A workshop for children and adults aged 5 to 99.

Out aim is to explore the problems arising from the simple act of folding a sheet of paper.

Who hasn’t come across the following hitch? To unfold a map or a leaflet and later fail to fold it back properly. Something as simple as that triggers several questions and activities. How many ways of folding are there? Which ways of folding are possible and which are impossible? Why is this issue to do with maths?

Participants will only make use of paper and maybe pencil, to be provided by the organisers. No previous knowledge is required except for that of numbers from 1 to 16 and the letters of the alphabet; a craving for exploration and learning is mandatory.

For those who really enjoy getting (literally!) into games, or those who prefer to watch from a distance before taking the plunge, there will be many giant-size mathematical games. Some of which are:

Pan y Queso

Bridg-it

Board games consist of strategy games, some of which for players to think on their own and some others to compete with other participants.

The following are some of them:

Caballitos del Diablo (Damselflies) (1 player)

Mancala (2 players)

Arrimando al 5000 (3 or 4 players)

The time and place of these activities will be informed daily at the Meeting Point.

These mathematical challenges will provide concrete materials for the participants to experiment with (“trial and error”) until they can solve the given problem.

Board games consist of strategy games, some of which for players to think on their own and some others to compete with other participants.

The following are some of them:

Caballitos del Diablo (Damselflies) (1 player)

Mancala (2 players)

Arrimando al 5000 (3 or 4 players)

The time and place of these activities will be informed daily at the Meeting Point.

These mathematical challenges will provide concrete materials for the participants to experiment with (“trial and error”) until they can solve the given problem.

For those who really enjoy getting (literally!) into games, or those who prefer to watch from a distance before taking the plunge, there will be many giant-size mathematical games. Some of which are:

Pan y Queso

Bridg-it

Murals will be depicting mathematics from different angles. This section of the exhibition is divided into different lines according to the way in which each subject relates with mathematic, even if this division is not exclusive. The following is the detail of the different lines with some of their murals.

Line A: Applications

Line C: Curiosities

Line G: Geometry

Line H: History

Line V: Visualisations

In this section of the exhibition, maths leaves the sheet of paper and leaps onto the screen. Computing helps us visualise in a dynamic way some aspects of mathematics that are hidden behind theories and formulae. Among the works to be exhibited are:

"Zorros y conejos, lluvias y mariposas"

"De lo micro a lo macro"

"Caminos óptimos"

"Cómo meter un escritorio en una placa de madera"

"Demostraciones sin palabras"

"El matrimonio estable entre Poisson y Lebesgue"

"Combatiendo espías"

"Entendiendo la vida en el juego de la vida"

"Superficies algebraicas"

"Fractales"

The video will be screened at the Anteroom.

In this section of the exhibition, maths leaves the sheet of paper and leaps onto the screen. Computing helps us visualise in a dynamic way some aspects of mathematics that are hidden behind theories and formulae. Among the works to be exhibited are:

"Zorros y conejos, lluvias y mariposas"

"De lo micro a lo macro"

"Caminos óptimos"

"Cómo meter un escritorio en una placa de madera"

"Demostraciones sin palabras"

"El matrimonio estable entre Poisson y Lebesgue"

"Combatiendo espías"

"Entendiendo la vida en el juego de la vida"

"Superficies algebraicas"

"Fractales"

Murals will be depicting mathematics from different angles. This section of the exhibition is divided into different lines according to the way in which each subject relates with mathematic, even if this division is not exclusive. The following is the detail of the different lines with some of their murals.

Line A: Applications

Line C: Curiosities

Line G: Geometry

Line H: History

Line V: Visualisations

The video will be screened at the Anteroom.

The video will be screened at the Anteroom.

In this section of the exhibition, maths leaves the sheet of paper and leaps onto the screen. Computing helps us visualise in a dynamic way some aspects of mathematics that are hidden behind theories and formulae. Among the works to be exhibited are:

"Zorros y conejos, lluvias y mariposas"

"De lo micro a lo macro"

"Caminos óptimos"

"Cómo meter un escritorio en una placa de madera"

"Demostraciones sin palabras"

"El matrimonio estable entre Poisson y Lebesgue"

"Combatiendo espías"

"Entendiendo la vida en el juego de la vida"

"Superficies algebraicas"

"Fractales"

Murals will be depicting mathematics from different angles. This section of the exhibition is divided into different lines according to the way in which each subject relates with mathematic, even if this division is not exclusive. The following is the detail of the different lines with some of their murals.

Line A: Applications

Line C: Curiosities

Line G: Geometry

Line H: History

Line V: Visualisations

A graph is a collection of dots connected by lines called edges, and it is useful for the representation of phenomena of different orders: cities and the roads connecting them, web pages and their links, microscopic channels in porous media, electric networks, etc. The first drawing shows a section from a graph with infinite dots and edges. Dots were distributed and later connected with their nearest dots.

The second drawing is different in that each dot has moved to the exact centre of its neighbour: this is what is called a harmonic graph.

An exhibition on the evolution of instruments for calculation. There will be old calculating machines available for use so that everyone can prove their efficacy and imagine the impact they had in the past, and also attempt to explain, from our present knowledge, how they worked.

By Alexander Holroyd

In this drawing, five per cent of the squares of the grid have been painted red. In accordance with the rules stipulated in “From Micro to Macro” (see text on the Maths in Motion section), the squares that became infected in each stage were painted in different colours: red for the first ones, black for the next ones, then blue, sky blue, green, yellow and lastly white.

By María Arroupe

The numerical universe introduces a field of infinite possibilities that María Arroupe explores with enthusiasm. First of all she takes photography. From a piece of work made with paper, the artist creates enigmatic images that blur the references to the portrayed object. Her works are abstract productions that stem from motion, from unusual framings, from reflexes and games of light. Her lack of concern for the literal translation of physic reality enables her to shape up a world of fluid, fragile, unstable forms that trigger perceptual quests.

By Alexander Holroyd

The picture shows the “stable marriage of Poisson and Lebesgue” for a set of 300 dots uniformly distributed at random in a square. The centres of the concentric circles are the dots and, in different colours, the territory of each point is represented (two-coloured concentric annuli).

By the group "Obras en Papel"

“Cajas selladas” (sealed boxes) are part of the project “Cifras y signaturas” and were designed following the instructions to explicitly avoid the function of a box: that of offering its inner space to store something. Each box invites the spectator to delve into a system based on symmetries, developments and equivalences as the box opens up, creating a universe of speculations that destabilise our expectations of boxes.

Por el grupo "Obras en papel".

Las Cajas selladas son parte del proyecto Cifras y signaturas y fueron diseñadas bajo la consigna de que evadieran explícitamente la función de una caja: la de ofrecer su espacio interior para guardar algo. Cada caja propone al espectador internarse en un sistema basado en simetrías,

desarrollos, equivalencias mientras la caja se va abriendo, generando un universo de especulaciones que ponen en crisis las expectativas de una caja.

By the group "Obras en Papel"

“Cajas selladas” (sealed boxes) are part of the project “Cifras y signaturas” and were designed following the instructions to explicitly avoid the function of a box: that of offering its inner space to store something. Each box invites the spectator to delve into a system based on symmetries, developments and equivalences as the box opens up, creating a universe of speculations that destabilise our expectations of boxes.

By Alexander Holroyd

The picture shows the “stable marriage of Poisson and Lebesgue” for a set of 300 dots uniformly distributed at random in a square. The centres of the concentric circles are the dots and, in different colours, the territory of each point is represented (two-coloured concentric annuli).

By Alexander Holroyd

In this drawing, five per cent of the squares of the grid have been painted red. In accordance with the rules stipulated in “From Micro to Macro” (see text on the Maths in Motion section), the squares that became infected in each stage were painted in different colours: red for the first ones, black for the next ones, then blue, sky blue, green, yellow and lastly white.

An exhibition on the evolution of instruments for calculation. There will be old calculating machines available for use so that everyone can prove their efficacy and imagine the impact they had in the past, and also attempt to explain, from our present knowledge, how they worked.

By María Arroupe

The numerical universe introduces a field of infinite possibilities that María Arroupe explores with enthusiasm. First of all she takes photography. From a piece of work made with paper, the artist creates enigmatic images that blur the references to the portrayed object. Her works are abstract productions that stem from motion, from unusual framings, from reflexes and games of light. Her lack of concern for the literal translation of physic reality enables her to shape up a world of fluid, fragile, unstable forms that trigger perceptual quests.

A graph is a collection of dots connected by lines called edges, and it is useful for the representation of phenomena of different orders: cities and the roads connecting them, web pages and their links, microscopic channels in porous media, electric networks, etc. The first drawing shows a section from a graph with infinite dots and edges. Dots were distributed and later connected with their nearest dots.

The second drawing is different in that each dot has moved to the exact centre of its neighbour: this is what is called a harmonic graph.

By the group "Obras en Papel"

“Cajas selladas” (sealed boxes) are part of the project “Cifras y signaturas” and were designed following the instructions to explicitly avoid the function of a box: that of offering its inner space to store something. Each box invites the spectator to delve into a system based on symmetries, developments and equivalences as the box opens up, creating a universe of speculations that destabilise our expectations of boxes.

By the group "Obras en Papel"

“Cajas selladas” (sealed boxes) are part of the project “Cifras y signaturas” and were designed following the instructions to explicitly avoid the function of a box: that of offering its inner space to store something. Each box invites the spectator to delve into a system based on symmetries, developments and equivalences as the box opens up, creating a universe of speculations that destabilise our expectations of boxes.

By the group "Obras en Papel"

“Cajas selladas” (sealed boxes) are part of the project “Cifras y signaturas” and were designed following the instructions to explicitly avoid the function of a box: that of offering its inner space to store something. Each box invites the spectator to delve into a system based on symmetries, developments and equivalences as the box opens up, creating a universe of speculations that destabilise our expectations of boxes.

By Alexander Holroyd

The picture shows the “stable marriage of Poisson and Lebesgue” for a set of 300 dots uniformly distributed at random in a square. The centres of the concentric circles are the dots and, in different colours, the territory of each point is represented (two-coloured concentric annuli).

By Alexander Holroyd

In this drawing, five per cent of the squares of the grid have been painted red. In accordance with the rules stipulated in “From Micro to Macro” (see text on the Maths in Motion section), the squares that became infected in each stage were painted in different colours: red for the first ones, black for the next ones, then blue, sky blue, green, yellow and lastly white.

A graph is a collection of dots connected by lines called edges, and it is useful for the representation of phenomena of different orders: cities and the roads connecting them, web pages and their links, microscopic channels in porous media, electric networks, etc. The first drawing shows a section from a graph with infinite dots and edges. Dots were distributed and later connected with their nearest dots.

The second drawing is different in that each dot has moved to the exact centre of its neighbour: this is what is called a harmonic graph.

An exhibition on the evolution of instruments for calculation. There will be old calculating machines available for use so that everyone can prove their efficacy and imagine the impact they had in the past, and also attempt to explain, from our present knowledge, how they worked.

By María Arroupe

The numerical universe introduces a field of infinite possibilities that María Arroupe explores with enthusiasm. First of all she takes photography. From a piece of work made with paper, the artist creates enigmatic images that blur the references to the portrayed object. Her works are abstract productions that stem from motion, from unusual framings, from reflexes and games of light. Her lack of concern for the literal translation of physic reality enables her to shape up a world of fluid, fragile, unstable forms that trigger perceptual quests.

By the group "Obras en Papel"

“Cajas selladas” (sealed boxes) are part of the project “Cifras y signaturas” and were designed following the instructions to explicitly avoid the function of a box: that of offering its inner space to store something. Each box invites the spectator to delve into a system based on symmetries, developments and equivalences as the box opens up, creating a universe of speculations that destabilise our expectations of boxes.

By the group "Obras en Papel"

“Cajas selladas” (sealed boxes) are part of the project “Cifras y signaturas” and were designed following the instructions to explicitly avoid the function of a box: that of offering its inner space to store something. Each box invites the spectator to delve into a system based on symmetries, developments and equivalences as the box opens up, creating a universe of speculations that destabilise our expectations of boxes.

By the group "Obras en Papel"

“Cajas selladas” (sealed boxes) are part of the project “Cifras y signaturas” and were designed following the instructions to explicitly avoid the function of a box: that of offering its inner space to store something. Each box invites the spectator to delve into a system based on symmetries, developments and equivalences as the box opens up, creating a universe of speculations that destabilise our expectations of boxes.

This show is divided into three parts:

“Falsas Notas y Caídas de Bolas”: impromptu performances with games, juggling and music.

“ReTime”: thanks to a computing device it is possible to experience the amazing dilation of seconds, to suspend chosen moments or to retrace a mistake. These feelings make a particular sense when faced with juggling.

Brief Talk: this talk will show how a simple command of mathematics and physics can be a tool for visual poetry.

This show is divided into three parts:

“Falsas Notas y Caídas de Bolas”: impromptu performances with games, juggling and music.

“ReTime”: thanks to a computing device it is possible to experience the amazing dilation of seconds, to suspend chosen moments or to retrace a mistake. These feelings make a particular sense when faced with juggling.

Brief Talk: this talk will show how a simple command of mathematics and physics can be a tool for visual poetry.

La obra se desarrolla en una caja negra absolutamente despojada, bañada por la arquitectura lumínica y una proyección de video que configura el espacio con un diseño abstracto de blancos y negros puros. Tres intérpretes habitan este espacio frío y borroso, surcado por imágenes

y haces de luces que impactan sobre sus cuerpos que comienzan a viajar en contra de su propia presencia. Un violinista y dos bailarinas forman parte

de este entramado en un espacio-tiempo de dimensión no necesariamente entera, peregrinando en la frontera entre el determinismo y el azar.

La obra se desarrolla en una caja negra absolutamente despojada, bañada por la arquitectura lumínica y una proyección de video que configura el espacio con un diseño abstracto de blancos y negros puros. Tres intérpretes habitan este espacio frío y borroso, surcado por imágenes y haces de luces que impactan sobre sus cuerpos que comienzan a viajar en contra de su propia presencia. Un violinista y dos bailarinas forman parte de este entramado en un espacio-tiempo de dimensión no necesariamente entera, peregrinando en la frontera entre el determinismo y el azar.

Musical comedy based on a story by Claudi Alsina

Adapted for the stage by: Bibiana Russo

Directed by: Patricia Sibolich

In this short, two-act comedy everyone seems guilty of the “death of geometry,” a current issue of the mathematics education worldwide. With a sense of humour and music performances, this play is meant to make us laugh while reflecting on mathematics and today’s education.

By Leonardo Di Rocco

Like many other hybrids, mathematical magic is often overlooked by mathematicians, on account of easiness, and by magicians, on account of tediousness. However, mathematical magic combines the beauty of a mathematical structure with the amusement of a trick. Leonardo’s show offers the audience a challenge to discover the “trick” or the “idea” behind each act. This challenge mirrors that of mathematicians in their daily work. The aim is to show, by means of some more or less classic tricks of Mathemagic, mathematical principles and notions which professionals make use of when solving problems.

Musical comedy based on a story by Claudi Alsina

Adapted for the stage by: Bibiana Russo

Directed by: Patricia Sibolich

In this short, two-act comedy everyone seems guilty of the “death of geometry,” a current issue of the mathematics education worldwide. With a sense of humour and music performances, this play is meant to make us laugh while reflecting on mathematics and today’s education.

By Leonardo Di Rocco

Like many other hybrids, mathematical magic is often overlooked by mathematicians, on account of easiness, and by magicians, on account of tediousness. However, mathematical magic combines the beauty of a mathematical structure with the amusement of a trick. Leonardo’s show offers the audience a challenge to discover the “trick” or the “idea” behind each act. This challenge mirrors that of mathematicians in their daily work. The aim is to show, by means of some more or less classic tricks of Mathemagic, mathematical principles and notions which professionals make use of when solving problems.

Musical comedy based on a story by Claudi Alsina

Adapted for the stage by: Bibiana Russo

Directed by: Patricia Sibolich

In this short, two-act comedy everyone seems guilty of the “death of geometry,” a current issue of the mathematics education worldwide. With a sense of humour and music performances, this play is meant to make us laugh while reflecting on mathematics and today’s education.

By Leonardo Di Rocco

Like many other hybrids, mathematical magic is often overlooked by mathematicians, on account of easiness, and by magicians, on account of tediousness. However, mathematical magic combines the beauty of a mathematical structure with the amusement of a trick. Leonardo’s show offers the audience a challenge to discover the “trick” or the “idea” behind each act. This challenge mirrors that of mathematicians in their daily work. The aim is to show, by means of some more or less classic tricks of Mathemagic, mathematical principles and notions which professionals make use of when solving problems.

Musical comedy based on a story by Claudi Alsina

Adapted for the stage by: Bibiana Russo

Directed by: Patricia Sibolich

In this short, two-act comedy everyone seems guilty of the “death of geometry,” a current issue of the mathematics education worldwide. With a sense of humour and music performances, this play is meant to make us laugh while reflecting on mathematics and today’s education.

By Leonardo Di Rocco

Like many other hybrids, mathematical magic is often overlooked by mathematicians, on account of easiness, and by magicians, on account of tediousness. However, mathematical magic combines the beauty of a mathematical structure with the amusement of a trick. Leonardo’s show offers the audience a challenge to discover the “trick” or the “idea” behind each act. This challenge mirrors that of mathematicians in their daily work. The aim is to show, by means of some more or less classic tricks of Mathemagic, mathematical principles and notions which professionals make use of when solving problems.

Musical comedy based on a story by Claudi Alsina

Adapted for the stage by: Bibiana Russo

Directed by: Patricia Sibolich

In this short, two-act comedy everyone seems guilty of the “death of geometry,” a current issue of the mathematics education worldwide. With a sense of humour and music performances, this play is meant to make us laugh while reflecting on mathematics and today’s education.

By Leonardo Di Rocco

Like many other hybrids, mathematical magic is often overlooked by mathematicians, on account of easiness, and by magicians, on account of tediousness. However, mathematical magic combines the beauty of a mathematical structure with the amusement of a trick. Leonardo’s show offers the audience a challenge to discover the “trick” or the “idea” behind each act. This challenge mirrors that of mathematicians in their daily work. The aim is to show, by means of some more or less classic tricks of Mathemagic, mathematical principles and notions which professionals make use of when solving problems.

Musical comedy based on a story by Claudi Alsina

Adapted for the stage by: Bibiana Russo

Directed by: Patricia Sibolich

In this short, two-act comedy everyone seems guilty of the “death of geometry,” a current issue of the mathematics education worldwide. With a sense of humour and music performances, this play is meant to make us laugh while reflecting on mathematics and today’s education.

By Leonardo Di Rocco

Like many other hybrids, mathematical magic is often overlooked by mathematicians, on account of easiness, and by magicians, on account of tediousness. However, mathematical magic combines the beauty of a mathematical structure with the amusement of a trick. Leonardo’s show offers the audience a challenge to discover the “trick” or the “idea” behind each act. This challenge mirrors that of mathematicians in their daily work. The aim is to show, by means of some more or less classic tricks of Mathemagic, mathematical principles and notions which professionals make use of when solving problems.

Directed by Gustavo Mosquera R. and students of Universidad del Cine de Buenos Aires.

Featuring Guillermo Angelelli, Roberto Carnaghi and Jorge Petraglia.

Dirigida por Ron Howard, con Russell Crowe, Ed Harris y Jennifer Connelly.

Charla debate, posterior a las funciones

de Una mente brillante y Dr. Strangelove:

“Von Neumann y Nash: el origen de la teoría de juegos y de la guerra fría”

Por Juan Pablo Pinasco.

Dirigida por Stanley Kubrick, con Peter Sellers y George C. Scott.

Charla debate, posterior a las funciones

de Una mente brillante y Dr. Strangelove:

“Von Neumann y Nash: el origen de la teoría de juegos y de la guerra fría”

Por Juan Pablo Pinasco.

Length: 3 short films of 13 minutes each.

Description: Three mathematical themes with a pedagogic approach and a superb aesthetics. The accuracy of maths combines with the directors’ artistic creativity.

Titles of the shorts:

• “La Música de las Esferas” (The Music of Spheres)

• “La Ironía del Destino” (The Irony of Destiny)

• “La Ley del Mínimo Esfuerzo” (The Law of the Minimum Effort)

Length: 3 short films of 13 minutes each.

Description: the second part of the Mathematical Mosaic, featuring three more mathematical themes with a pedagogic approach and a superb aesthetics. The accuracy of maths combines with the directors’ artistic creativity.

Title of the shorts:

• “Cómo Organizarse” (Getting organised)

• “Al Análisis de Fourier” (Fourier Analysis)

• “Las Esferas de Kepler” (Kepler’s Spheres)

Duración: 15 min.

Descripción: Un matemático conversa con un joven estudiante de secundario acerca de la topología de los poliedros y juntos deducen la fórmula de Euler.

Duración: 13 min.

Descripción: Un matemático de la École Polytechnique experimenta con la visualización matemática. Y muestra aplicaciones en la mecánica cuántica y la física de partículas elementales.