Pick a Number - Any Number (In-person)
Summer (3 to 6.5 hrs) | Registration opens Monday, May 18, 2026 12:00 AM EDT
We live in a world of numbers — and as our horizons have expanded, so have the range of numbers we have to contend with — gigantic and microscopic.
We’ll take a quick spin through the history of numbers and how the range of numbers is named. Then we'll move on to the universe of big numbers and after that to the really, really small. In the course of this journey, we’ll see how to compare numbers, from the cost of living to the number of stars in the sky. Through comparisons and analogies, participants will develop perspectives on the numbers that mean the most to them.
Register your own favorite number before the class. It can be a pure number or a quantity of special importance to you and we’ll dive into its deeper meaning. So, "Thanks a million for considering this course!"
This course will combine lecture with class discussions.
James Byleckie
James Byleckie, a Harvard-trained experimental physicist, has applied this expertise to systems analysis. He has found that the key challenge isn’t identifying issues, but communicating solutions clearly. In semi-retirement, besides being a reviewer and technical editor for Statistics & AI texts, he also volunteers with the MIT Undergraduate Research & Technology Conference, The Young Inventors Program, and WickedSTEM. His focus is now on helping adults frame math positively for young people.