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<p>But that’s the rub: mathematics could be converted into an entertainment activity and competition. Why not? We already have game shows that award prizes to contestants who can demonstrate a wide range of intellectual talents, whether they be pure trivia (i.e. Jeopardy, Who Wants to be a Millionaire), word/phrase guessing (Wheel of Fortune), knowledge of consumer goods pricing (The Price is Right), or even probability theory (Deal or No Deal). So why can’t we have entertaining game shows that award prizes according to your mathematics skills? That would surely encourage more American kids to study math. </p>
<p>Nor do these game shows award prizes for skills that necessarily have any clear social “value”. Honestly, who really cares whether you can remember who FDR’s 3 Vice Presidents were? That’s something anybody can easily look up through Wikipedia at anytime. What social value is actually gained by remembering that fact? As smart of a guy he is, Ken Jennings is surely not as smart as Terence Tao, yet Jennings is laughing all the way to the bank. </p>
<p>Again, the real issue is that mathematics lacks a marketing engine. There’s no outlet to promote the talents of the world’s best mathematicians such that people would actually want to watch them perform. Jennings’ winning streak produced a notable ratings bump for Jeopardy and hence represented millions of dollars worth of additional advertising exposure for the sponsors of the show.</p>