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Photo by Randy Tepper
2004 CBS Broadasting Inc.
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David Krumholtz stars as Charlie Eppes, a mathematics genius who is recruited by his brother, an FBI agent, to help the bureau solve crimes on "Numb3rs." |
Raising math's 'cool' factor
By wendy soderburg
UCLA Today staff writer
What’s the highest-rated television show on Friday nights? If you guessed “NUMB3RS,” a drama about an FBI agent (Rob Morrow) who recruits his mathematical-genius brother (David Krumholtz) to help the bureau solve a wide range of crimes in Los Angeles, you’re absolutely right. The popularity of the show — which is only in its second season — has surpassed many people’s expectations, especially given the fact that its plot lines often involve complex mathematical formulas.
It’s the way the show weaves math into compelling story lines that gives hope to real mathematicians like Tony Chan, dean of the physical sciences, that “NUMB3RS” will do for math what the “CSI” franchise has done for forensic science: get more kids interested in math as a career.
“Television is a reflection of how our culture prioritizes certain professions,” Chan said. “There used to be very few shows about science and a lot of shows about police officers, doctors, lawyers. I’m not saying people entered those professions because they saw it on a prime-time TV show, but if a show like ‘NUMB3RS’ can get people to even take a look at math or science, that would help tremendously. I believe the talent is out there.”
According to Chan, UCLA is actually doing quite well, graduating the largest number of math (269) and chemistry/biochemistry (201) undergraduates of all colleges in the United States last year. But the national situation is bleak: 32% of undergraduates in the U.S. are science and engineering majors, compared to 60% in such countries as China and Japan.
Chan and his colleagues are optimistic that “NUMB3RS” can go far in promoting the appeal of math and science. They’re planning a panel discussion, titled “ ‘NUMB3RS’ and the Challenge of Changing Public Perception of Mathematics,” for the Feb. 18 meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in St. Louis, Mo. Chan will moderate the discussion that will include Krumholtz; the show’s writers, Cheryl Heuton and Nicolas Falacci; and Gary Lorden, chair of mathematics at Caltech and the show’s consultant.
Already, high school math teachers are getting a little help from the show in the form of math exercises provided by Texas Instruments and the National Committee of Teachers of Math. Each week, students can go to the “NUMB3RS” Web site to find math problems that correspond to the show they just watched.
Two years ago, the show’s writers asked Chan to serve as a consultant on the pilot episode. Despite initial misgivings about working on a Hollywood project, Chan agreed after considering the extremely low number of prime-time shows about science. He ended up looking over the script and meeting Krumholtz, who plays mathematician Charlie Eppes on the show.
“The show doesn’t shy away from math or physics concepts — they actually try to explain some of the concepts by using physical analogies,” Chan said. He likes it when Charlie tries to solve a crime by using a math concept, usually getting it wrong on the first try. Insight eventually dawns.
“That’s the best part, realizing that mathematics does not solve everything,” Chan added. “You have to use the right math, the right model. And sometimes you use the wrong model. So actually, the show gets it quite right.” |
