The Freakonomics of Math

In the Slate podcast "The Gist," Mike Pesca talks to Jordan Ellenberg, author of How Not to Be Wrong, about math education, the Laffer curve, obesity rates, and how to bring the communication of mathematics into the mainstream.

An excerpt:

There are these immensely powerful, wonderful, flexible mathematical methods, and they're great but you have to pay attention to what it is that you're doing and what it is that you're saying. If you don't do the step when you ask yourself 'Does this answer make sense?' you're not doing mathematics.

Take a listen (start at ~8:34).