FSUMATH
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FSU Math Fun Day


FSU Math Fun Day
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Math Fun Day 2023 - It's Back! Saturday, March 25, 1:00-5:00pm

After a two year hiatus due to Covid, FSU Math Fun Day is back! The Department of Mathematics hosts FSU Math Fun Day, an Open House for the general public of all ages, including K-12 students and teachers. Come join us for some math fun! There will be lots of hands-on activities, presentations, exhibits, demonstration, and workshops. Activities are available for all ages in grades K-12, but students in kindergarten and grade 1 will need extra parental help. Anyone and everyone is invited to attend and all the activities are free.

1:00-5:00pm - Various hands-on activities, including workshops and demonstrations.


Program of Activities

Printable Math Fun Day Brochure with a Schedule of Events:
FSU Math Fun Day Program Activities Image Page 1 FSU Math Fun Day Program Activities Image Page 2

Click here for Maps and Parking Information.

Information about FSU Math Fun Day

Do you want your children and families to experience mathematics in a fun and engaging way? Come to FSU Math Fun Day. Each year, faculty, staff, and student volunteers from the Department of Mathematics engage with the community, including K-12 students and teachers to demonstrate that MATH is FUN! If you have not attended before, we welcome you, and if you are returning, welcome back! The event is free and open to the general public. This is our 8th annual Math Fun Day! Follow us on Facebook for more details!

Come join us! Please check back often for event updates.
Dr. Monica K. Hurdal, Event Director and Professor in the Department of Mathematics
Email: MathFunDay@math.fsu.edu or mhurdal@math.fsu.edu
Phone: (850) 644-2202 (Department of Mathematics Main Office) or (850)-644-7183 (direct)


Activity Rooms:

Activity rooms are an open house style event, where people can come and go.

  • Room 101: The Dilemma Game! - New mathematical game this year! - (Sign-up Required Outside the Room)
    You and your fellow game participants are given a game scenario. The choices you make will lead to different game outcomes, some good and some not so good. What a dilemma! Will you and your fellow players reach the optimal/best outcome or will you reach the worst possible outcome? Join us in playing cooperative games to learn about the mathematical field of Game Theory. Multiple game sessions will be held, and participants will be given a set time limit to play the game. Each session is limited, so be sure to sign-up outside Room 101! Recommended for Grades 5 and above.
    Featured Faculty from Mathematics:
    • Dr. Bryce Morsky, Assistant Professor of Mathematics
  • Room 102: Fractals
    Fractals are infinitely repeating patterns that are similar at every scale and occur in science and nature. Learn what fractals are, and come create your own in 2D and 3D using geometry or a computer!
    Recommended for Grades 2 and up.
  • Room 103: Math In Nature
    Discover where math appears in nature, music, art, DNA, biology, plants, and animals. Learn about the Fibonacci sequence and investigate the golden mean spiral.
    Recommended for all ages.
  • Room 105: Secret Codes and Puzzles
    Create your own secret codes and ciphers and find out how to decipher messages! Be challenged by other mathematical puzzles and riddles! Which puzzles can you solve? Join us for a special workshop on Secret Codes! Workshop space is limited.
    Recommended for Grades 5 and above.
    Featured Faculty from Mathematics:
    • Dr. Giray Okten, Professor of Mathematics & Julia Ream, Mathematics Graduate Student
      Join us for a special workshop on secret codes. Encode and decode your own messages! Workshops start at 1:30 and 3:00 and last about an hour. Workshop space is limited.
  • Room 106: Easy as Pi with Featured Faculty - New Activities this year!
    Join faculty in a variety of hands-on mathematical activities. Activities with numbers, shapes, and software defined radio are some of the things you can try! Or just come and chat about math!
    Recommended for all ages.
    Featured Faculty from Mathematics, Meteorology, and Computer Science:
    • Dr. Samuel Ballas, Associate Professor, and Dr. Thomas Needham, Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics
      Buffon Needle Problem - Try your hand at estimating Pi with this classic math challenge from the 18th century.
    • Dr. Feng Bao and Dr. Sanghyun Lee, Assistant Professors, Department of Mathematics
      Have you heard of machine learning? Play some games that showcase machine learning and artificial intelligence.
    • Dr. Jon Ahlquist, Retired Associate Professor of Meteorology
      Software-Defined Radio (SDR) is the future of radio communication! Become part of this fast-developing technology where most of a traditional radio is replaced by a computer and software.
  • Room 107: Mathematical Games Room
    Try your hand at 3D tic-tac-toe and other games. Learn some of the mathematical strategies for playing various games and use mathematics to improve your playing style!
    Recommended for all ages.
  • Room 205A: Geometric Constructions
    Build polyhedra and other shapes with mathematical construction tools, such as Zome. Discover the natural symmetries that govern 3-dimensional space.
    Recommended for all ages.
  • Room 231: Symmetries and Patterns - New Activities This Year! Explore geometries (rigid geometries and curved surfaces) through easy to make models. Find hidden symmetries by folding your own hexahexaflexagons and origami shapes. Try our challenges and puzzles.
    Recommended for all ages with mathematical challenges at all levels.
  • Room 232: Women in Mathematics - New Activities This Year!
    This Activity Room is organized by the FSU Student Chapter of the Association of Women in Mathematics
    Do you know of any famous female mathematicians? There are lots! Come learn about some of the contributions women have made to mathematics and mathematical research. There are hands-on activities to demonstrate some of the fields of mathematics where women have made discoveries.
    Recommended for Grades K-12.
  • Other Activities: Throughout the event, come participate in other fun activities!
    Make awesome bubbles with 3D shapes (polyhedra)!
    Learn about snails with touch tanks provided by Sea-to-See and discover the mathematical intricacies of the snail shell and why we use the snail as our logo.
    Solve our riddles and puzzles located throughout the hallways.
    And very close to the Love Building, you can also visit the FSU Department of Physics which will be holding the Circus of Physics!

Support FSU Department of Mathematics and Student Math Societies with a Donation

Donations will be gratefully accepted to support this event and future outreach events, as well as student activities and research! As a thank you gift for onsite donations, you have the opportunity to receive your very own Math Fun Day t-shirt or an autographed kids book, The Mathematical Investigations of Dr. O and Arya, which contains many mathematical activities for kids and is written by our Secret Codes presenter Dr. Giray Okten and his daughter Arya Okten.

For online donations, you can also become a Friend of FSU Math. Your donations to FSU Mathematics help support alumni networking, community outreach, research activities, and guest speakers.

Event Advertising and Media Releases

Help us advertise FSU Math Fun Day!

Maps and Parking


Financial Support

FSU Math Fun Day is made possible through the generous financial support of
  • The College of Arts and Sciences at Florida State University,
  • The College of Education at Florida State University,
  • The Department of Mathematics at Florida State University,
  • The Brennan Professorship of Mathematics,
  • Friends of FSU Math.

Contact Us

If you would like to support FSU Math Fun Day, and other outreach activities
Event Director: Professor Monica K. Hurdal, Department of Mathematics
Email: MathFunDay@math.fsu.edu
Phone: (850) 644-2202 (Department of Mathematics Main Office) or (850) 644-7183 (Direct)

Information on this site will be updated periodically.


Like us on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/FSUMathFunDay; follow our event on facebook; and follow us on Instagram and twitter #FSUMathFunDay