[Q] Gifts for a math major?

[syphrix]

What kind of clever (read: budgeted) gifts can I get/create for a math major?

[sanctus]

A cup with formulas of his/her field printed on?

Some fractal-stuff?

 

A T-shirt with a cool math joke? Like: there is a party of mathematical functions the logarythm is trying to hit on the square root, the x^2 is getting drunk at the bar, etc. but the constant is all sad and scared in a corner. The exponential shows up says to the constant:"why so sad?". Constant replies:"the derivative is here and if she sees me I disappear". The exponential being a real gentlemen says:"don't worry I always stay the same, so I will defend you". So the derivative shows up and the exponential yells:"run constant, I'll get her". Then to the derivative he yells:"Hey derivative come here, you won't make me disappear, I am the exponential of x". The derivative replies "...and I am derivative with respect to y..."

 

This joke is from some years ago (my memory...), so there is surely a shorter and better version, but you get the idea.

[CraigD]

Speaking from personal taste, math-ish people like physical instances of mathematical ideas, and/or physical puzzles that are a challenge to model mathematically

 

Backsmith (also known as tavern) puzzles are an example of the latter

 

Permutation puzzles are an example of the former. The most well known are arguably the Rubic’s cube, and the soma cube, but there are many, with several good new ones being invented and sold every year.

 

If you mathish recipient is much like me, she/he will like almost any puzzle, even “easy” ones, as mathish people have a penchant for finding complexity is the easy.

 

A challenge for the gift giver is to find one of these the receiver doesn’t already have. If a mathish person doesn’t have at least a small cache of such puzzles, it’s likely a sign they’re of the class of mathish people who don’t like them.

 

See the wikipedia article “mechanical puzzle” for examples.

[syphrix]

hrmmm, she loves fractals. That joke is pretty clever too :eek_big: I'll keep pondering. It's a good start for me. Thanks!

[Mercedes Benzene]

Try ThinkGeek :: Stuff for Smart Masses

You're bound to find something there that could make a fun gift for a math major.

[Pyrotex]

MMMMmmmmmm...

Bucky Balls !!!

 

That's what I want for Christmas !!!