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Dan Finkel

@mathforlove.bsky.social
1.4K followers 234 following 276 posts

Founder, Math for Love, mathforlove.com. Dedicated to giving everyone a chance and a reason to fall in love with mathematics. Curriculum writer, game developer, speaker, teacher of teachers.

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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 17h
I love it, and I can't remember seeing anyone make this kind of design before. It looks like a kind of face to me. Or maybe it's purely abstract? @triangleman.bsky.social @davidkbutler.bsky.social
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 17h
In a recent visit to some friends, I noticed that their 7-year-old son was playing with 21st Century Pattern Blocks. His mom sent me this photo today.
A collection of colorful blocks
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
When we talk about misleading representations of data, this one may have to be in the hall of fame. (Though I assume it was a joke in the first place)
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Tim Carmody @tcarmody.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
This is the funniest thing I've seen today, possibly ever
A tweet by SarahStarberry that says "oh god read the vertical axis" on top of a chart measuring AI models' release dates and model numbers rather than any real capabilities
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
This also helps me understand why I've been so into the Zombies. They get to it really quickly, which I guess I like. But even though This Will Be Our Year is a great song, it wasn't my pick for this list - A Rose for Emily gets to the heart of the music/story basically as fast as possible.
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Sometimes it misdirects you to present a revelation or bafflement of your expecation (A Fifth of Beethoven by Walter Murphy) And then there are some that I'm not sure how to classify Lachrymosa by Mozart Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I've been thinking about this question all evening. I think it's because the first fifteen seconds of a song can do such different work. Sometimes it just gets into the heart of the song (A Rose for Emily by the Zombies) Sometimes it's a completely different preamble (Rocky Raccoon, the Beatles)
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David K Butler @davidkbutler.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Two stages of a pattern blocks design between two mirrors, at #100factorial yesterday. The designer was unsatisfied with her first design, wanting a bigger triangle to fill the corner next to the orange square. I suggested making a bigger pink triangle out of four smaller ones and off she went.
A pattern block design between two angled mirrors so that the design is reflected around making something like a snowflake. It uses blocks in many colours and shapes.The previous design has been extended to the mirrors and out beyond the mirrors so that the reflections make it very very large. Several areas parts are made of multiple of the same shape joined together.
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David K Butler @davidkbutler.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
An unexpected use of the upscale pattern blocks at #100factorial yesterday @mathforlove.bsky.social
A tower made of green wooden triangles. Each layer is made of four triangles: three standing on their sides and one flat on the tops of the three points. Each layer uses smaller triangles than the layer below.
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
These are great! I like vertical.
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
I signed this petition, and if early numeracy is something you care about, you should think about signing it too :-) __________________________ When kids play, we all win. Games help kids build math skills. Let’s get every kid playing. Learn more and sign the petition: weareallsolvers.org/aap/
weareallsolvers.org
National Guidance on Early Numeracy - We're All Solvers
Early numeracy has no national guidance. It should. Join governors, researchers, educators, and pediatric professionals calling on the American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. Surgeon General to gi...
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
This is really worth reading
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
That's super cool. We briefly considered the Ulam spiral for the official board.
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David K Butler @davidkbutler.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Before the second game we arranged the cards by number of distinct prime factors (or by number of different colours if you like).
An arrangement of the Prime Climb cards into five blocks. 
The very far block in the distance just has the grey 1. 
The next block is three and a bit rows of 10 wide and each card has only one colour. Mostly red, then several yellow and a scattering of green, blue and purple.
The next block is five and a bit rows of 10 wide and each card has two colours. All five colours are represented many times.
The next block is only row of nine cards and each card has three different colours.
The final and nearest block is just the black 0 card.
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David K Butler @davidkbutler.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Bodyscale Prime Climb at #100factorial yesterday. We arranged the cards in an Ulam spiral first to see what that looked like with the coloured cards.
A rectangle of laminated A4 cards laid on the floor. Each card has a circle with a number in it and the circle is divided into some number of coloured sections. The nearest corner has 80 with four yellow sections and one blue section, then 81 with four green sections, then 82 in the corner with one yellow and one red section, then 83 on the next edge with one red section, then 84 with one blue, one purple and two yellow sections. To the side of 82 not part of the main rectangle is a black card labelled Start and 0. Six people stand on six of the cards, though you can only see their legs.The same set of Prime Climb cards from a distance and from above. Four people stand on the cards and one is walking across them. Another stands to the side watching. One more person stands on the other side holding a board with spinners. Some people are wearing coloured fabric sashes.
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Holy Gahbajoly. An internal OpenAI model may have just solved a Millennium problem. 🤯 openai.com/index/navier...
openai.com
On the Navier–Stokes Millennium Prize Problem
We’re sharing an AI-generated solution to the Navier–Stokes Millennium Prize Problem, including a writeup and a formal proof in Lean.
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Here's a fun problem from Polya: 72 turkeys cost $ _67.9_ >What are the missing digits? >How much does a single turkey cost? (Note - the price for a turkey is going to look wildly out of date) #iteachmath
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
I exchanged some emails with them, and they have their favorites. I'm decently sure they're real. (Though I suppose it's hard to know for sure these days!)
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
One clarification: there was just one high schooler involved (and maybe his brothers) with the first site. I think perhaps he does play his own app games? But not sure.
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
I don't think anyone is using them yet. I just think they made them and are kind of throwing them out there.
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Neither site seems to have ads or be about monetization. They both asked me what I think of their sites. I'm curious about people's opinions. Do you see either of these as something you'd use? Or without a larger ecosystem for them to live in, do they not have a place? #iteachmath
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
This one is an English/Spanish riddle of the day site. acertijodeldia.com/en/
acertijodeldia.com
Riddle of the day — Daily Logic Puzzle
One carefully chosen logic puzzle a day, with hints, explanations, open-answer checking, and spoiler-free challenges.
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
This one is made by a high schooler. playega.com
playega.com
Playega.com — Where Playing Makes You Smarter
PlayEGA by MATHinkCo — original word, logic, language, and mathematics games for curious minds. Play UNORK, sortIQ, GRIDLOCK, OSM, GRIDOKU, MATHsticks, NIM, SWIPE, iQPAD, and WORDgps.
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Some folks reached out to me recently with small bespoke websites featuring riddles, math-y games, etc., lately. AI makes this kind of stuff easier to produce than ever. Do you think there's a place for it? I'll share some...
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
The August Mindbender (Jumping Pegs) from @3blue1brown.com @momath.bsky.social and others is basically a perfect puzzle. Simple, unexpected, and with (I assume) many, many ways to approach and solve it. momath.org/mindbenders/ I'll need to check out all the puzzles in this series!
momath.org
Monthly Mindbenders – National Museum of Mathematics
National Museum of Mathematics: Inspiring math exploration and discovery
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Robert Kaplinsky @robertkaplinsky.com · 22/08/2026
Looking for some challenging math riddles for your students? These 25+ problems were created by Dan Finkel from Math for Love for TedEd. Check them out here: ed.ted.com/search?utf8=%E2%... They're lots of fun to use with your students.
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John Golden @johngolden.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
This week's Weekly Wonders from earlyfamilymath.org/weekly-wonder/ and @mathforlove.bsky.social are all nice Nim variations. Like Factor Nim quite a bit. #mathgame
Factor Nim, pick a number, subtract a factor to get a new number, zero loses.
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MathHappens Foundation @mathhappens.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
This was so much fun. Our run ended a July 31 but we are adding even more Math Rooms this fall.
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Mike Deutsch @mdeutschmtl.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Maybe not what they were thinking of, but Tiny Polka Dot is on my gift list for little ones who enjoy mathy thinking. mathforlove.com/games/tiny-p...
mathforlove.com
Tiny Polka Dot - Math For Love
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
"It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be fun!" Love this #earlymathvideo from STEM Utah! @earlyfamilymath.bsky.social www.youtube.com/shorts/94Kqk...
youtube.com
MILO + Friends: Using Math Language at Home
YouTube video by STEM Utah
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Right. The point here is that writing is central to thinking. You need to consider what you use the tool for, and why.
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
I don't suppose they do gift articles?
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
I don't agree with Bret Stephens very often. I do here. Machines can lift more than we can. We don't use them to lift weights for us when we go to the gym. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/04/o...
nytimes.com
Opinion | I’m Begging You: Never Write With A.I. (Gift Article)
It’s bad for your brain and worse for democracy.
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Edward Vogel @mathartforall.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
"Manipulatives make Deep Work more Accessible" - words to thrive by. And there is so much more. Read this blog post.
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Hadn't heard about it! I can't this year - I'll have to look at it for the future.
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
If anyone still reads long blog posts, I just wrote a reflection on our pilot project with Seattle Public Schools of last year. It was kind of an amazing collaboration. #iteachmath #mtbos mathforlove.com/2026/08/who-...
mathforlove.com
Who Deserves the Good Stuff? - Math For Love
A reflection on our pilot project with Seattle Public Schools to provide appropriate math challenges for gifted kids in general-ed classrooms
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NCSM: Leadership in Mathematics Education @mathedleaders.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
We're proud to help share COUNTED OUT, an award-winning documentary by Vicki Abeles that asks an urgent question: how do we reclaim our mathematical confidence in the age of AI? Saturday, August 8, 2026 1:00 PM PT / 4:00 PM ET RSVP: bit.ly/CountedOutAug8
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David K Butler @davidkbutler.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Pattern block and joined mirror designs made by the university students at the O’Week One Hundred Factorial sessions this week.
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
If you're interested in backing our campaign once we launch, click the button here and you'll get a notice when we go live: www.kickstarter.com/projects/fin... It'll probably be Fall, 2026. Soon!
kickstarter.com
Coming soon: Battle of the Species
The breakthrough game where animals battle in epic and hilarious showdowns in their native habitats and beyond.
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Side project update! I'm having a ridiculously good time working with my brothers on a new board game, Battle of the Species. We'll be Kickstarting it soon! My older brother had the brilliant idea to have our artist make cards featuring us. I quite like how mine turned out!
Playing card from the Game Battle of the Species, featuring one of the creators, Dan.
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Just learned that Lucas invented the Towers of Hanoi and was the first person to write down the rules of Dots and Boxes. (Died from sepsis from an accidental scratch from a broken plate! Crazy. Tough living pre-antibiotics.) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89d...
en.wikipedia.org
Édouard Lucas - Wikipedia
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
That’s a legitimate point of view I think. The question I find myself consumed with is what perspective will work best with respect to systemic adoption. i have theories, but at some level, I think it’s an open question.
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Michael Pershan @mpershan.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Hey! I wrote something about teaching and Dan wrote something back. What year is this, 2012? (Read Dan's thing, it's interesting.)
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Henri, I hope I'm not creating too much embarrassment for you, but I felt like I needed to write a reply to Michael's piece. It's nearly as enthusiastic as his. mathforlove.com/2026/07/make...
mathforlove.com
Makeover or Heart Transplant? - Math For Love
Are math classes basically fine, but in need of a new PR or user experience approach? Or is a deeper overhaul what we need?
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Michael, I've been thinking enough about your piece that I felt like I had to write one of my own. mathforlove.com/2026/07/make...
mathforlove.com
Makeover or Heart Transplant? - Math For Love
Are math classes basically fine, but in need of a new PR or user experience approach? Or is a deeper overhaul what we need?
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Michael Pershan @mpershan.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
I wrote about how @hpicciotto.bsky.social makes such wonderful (and useful) mathematical activities. substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com
How Henri Picciotto Designs Great Lessons
Learning from one of the best to ever do it.
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Christopher Danielson @triangleman.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
Math On-A-Stick sign ups are live! www.signupgenius.com/go/4090F44AB...
signupgenius.com
Math On-A-Stick 2026 Volunteers
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN VOLUNTEERING AT MATH ON-A-STICK IN 2025!  We need your help to make this year's Math On-A-Stick another successful venture! Each summer, more than 250 volunteers fill al...
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Wow - a cool local decor store stocks our games. And Rolly Poly is on an incredible sale there right now! digsshowroom.com/products/rol...
digsshowroom.com
Rolly Poly Game | Math for Love
The Rolly Poly Game from Math for Love is a fun, physical, collaborative, number-learning family game! Start playing in less than a minute. Includes high-quality cards, wooden counters and a giant, pl...
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Probably combinatorics. I’ve actually assigned some problems that are very close to some of the things you’re describing.
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
You’re close to defining a really interesting math problem here, I think 🙂
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