Perhaps you prefer the animated classic over Johnny Depp, or maybe you prefer the book over the myriad movie interpretations, either way if you’re like me there’s always something new to learn about the classic tale. I had some knowledge that Carroll was interested in and contributed to the field of recreational mathematics, but little of Carroll’s academic studies in math while attending Oxford where he was known not by his nom de plume but given name Charles Dodgson.
Let’s get straight to the point though – Alice in Wonderland is filled with Carroll’s ideas surrounding new math that was coming about in the 1800s. While Alice begins to shrink she wonders just how small she can get, will she continue to shrink forever or eventually disappear altogether? Carroll was known to cling to traditional view of mathematics (the axiomatic approach of Euclid), and the book can be read as satirical commentary on the changing landscape of the field.
There is quite a lot of information about the subject out there – certainly enough to keep one entertained well beyond the final credits or last page, below are some links to get you started down the rabbit hole.
Alice’s adventures in algebra: Wonderland solved by Melanie Bayley
A Math-Free Guide to the Math of Alice in Wonderland by Esther Inglis-Arkell
The Hidden Math Behind Alice in Wonderland by Keith Devlin
About the Author: Rita Rogers grew up in the PNW and despite her “low-tech” houseboat upbringing, went on to complete her Master’s of Communication in Digital Media at the University of Washington in 2010. She is passionate about the convergence of education and technology, educational gaming, and outer space.
