Math Encounters: Bouncing Around -The Language of Billiards in Polygons

How many ways can a billiard ball bounce around a polygonal table? This seemingly simple question leads to surprisingly deep mathematical mysteries. Despite being a basic model of Newtonian mechanics, mathematical billiards in polygons remain largely unsolved—offering an exciting frontier for exploration.

Join Jayadev Athreya, Professor of Mathematics and the Comparative History of Ideas at the University of Washington, as he unveils cutting-edge discoveries at the fascinating intersection of geometry, motion, and chaos theory. With a special introduction by Fields Medalist Akshay Venkatesh, this engaging talk will reveal unexpected patterns and profound questions about the nature of movement in mathematical spaces.

Don’t miss this chance to dive into the rich mathematical landscape of bouncing billiard balls and explore the elegant structures hiding in plain sight. Light refreshments will be served.

There will be two presentations: at 4:00 pm and at 7:00 pm

Register here: https://momath.org/math-encounters/

Host or Publisher National Museum of Mathematics