Math and Science Behind The Numb3rs
Interestingly enough, there’s not only mathematics behind the TV show Numb3rs, but computer science as well. I’ll delve into some short examples so you can see how they were applied to solve a case.
For example, in the episode One Hour which aired last week, the team was assigned to solve a kidnapping case.
The characters Charles and Amita, both math geniuses, were first tasked with helping to track a VoIP call. These calls are placed via use of the Internet. Amita placed an exploit on the call’s packet to determine the location of where the call took place. Using this technique, she was able to determine the exact location of the caller, who was at a WiFi hotspot (the public library).
The next challenge was to determine the identity of the head kidnapper, based on the ransom amount. This required a special math technique called a Cake Cutting algorithm, and some old fashioned police work as well (because one agent, Reeves, recognized a particular amount on the victim’s tax return).
The final task was to solve a maze that the kidnappers had created using a State Diagram. The best way to explain this one is with the example in the show. Picture a wooden labyrinth puzzle, with each hole representing an obstacle, and the knobs on each end representing X & Y. Here’s an example of an actual state diagram.
Fascinating stuff here in this FBI drama, and this is from a repeat!
Diagram via Wolfram MathWorld
Tags: numb3rs, fbi drama, charles, amita, cake cutting algorithm, state diagram, one hour, voip, numb3rs tv show
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