Rodeo the Magnifico

Rodeo the Magnifico performs mathematical magic tricks for children. Students usually say “Wow!” the first time they see one of Rodeo’s tricks. Most magicians don’t repeat tricks, but Rodeo does. After a few demonstrations, students say “Wait!” (instead of “Wow!”) and ask a question. After a lot of wonder and laughter, what was a trick naturally evolves into a compelling math problem. Students try to figure out how to perform the tricks and how they work. They often protest “How is this math?!” Rodeo then takes off her cape and works with children to figure out the math behind the “trick.” Students typically do so by first forming conjectures and then responding to Rodeo’s counterexamples to the conjectures.

A math communicator, Rodeo’s goals are

• to reinforce that point that what looks like mind-reading or magic is just math,
• to not necessarily believe what you see, and
• to send students home with the ability to perform at least one trick for their families and friends.

Rodeo’s repertoire of tricks include illusions (geometry – shhh!), mind-control (algebra – shhhh!), mind-reading (number operations and place value – shhhh!), and close-up magic (game theory and algorithms – shhhh!). Many were first popularized by Martin Gardner or his followers.

Photo credits: Esther Grant, Ashley Marks, and Allison Myers