On this Pi Day...

Atlas Obscura has a few mathematically-minded things to say, probing the mysteries of:

• Why do we always seem to be solving for x?
• Oldest example of the symbol for zero.  I'm sorry, but it's still a big nothing.
• One scary-ass prime number.
• A mathematician proposes improved phonetics for numbers over radio.

I like that last one, though the article is from 2016 and this system has never caught on.  Here's a direct link to the mathematician in question's web site that gives all they why behind it, and here's the chart:

I kind of like these.  Better than saying "tree" or "fife" and sounding like a dork, and especially better than that jacked-up ITU system.  Wonder if it'll ever catch on?  It should.

ps: If you need more math humor, check out last weekend's Foxtrot.