Colloquium - Dr. Ross Stokke

Fri. Jan. 9 12:30 PM - Fri. Jan. 9 01:20 PM
Location: 2M77

Dr. Ross Stokke

University of Winnipeg, Deptartment of Mathematics

"The Banach-Tarski Paradox"

Simply put, the Banach-Tarski paradox says that it is possible to cut an orange (say) into finitely many pieces and reassemble the pieces --  via ordinary rigid motions -- to obtain two oranges of the very same size, shape, and volume as the original orange.  As well, the paradox tells us that it is possible to cut this same orange into finitely many pieces, and reassemble the pieces to obtain a new orange that is the size of Jupiter. I will discuss this paradox and some of the reasons why mathematicians happily accept it as a legitimate theorem.

All are welcome to attend.