Hannah Fry: ‘The existence of Santa Claus is indisputable’ - Podcast

“In mathematical proof, if something is true then it is absolutely true forever and our intention was to apply that certainty to prove that Santa exists,” says Hannah Fry.

“You definitely can’t prove that he doesn’t exist and that’s good enough for me,” the mathematician told Róisín Ingle, presenter of the Róisín Meets podcast.

Fry is the author of the wonderfully titled, The Indisputable Existence of Santa Claus, which asks all the burning questions about Christmas:

Is Santa slimming down or sizing up?

What is the most mathematically perfect way to cook a turkey?

And, what is the formula for the fairest method of Christmas cracker pulling?

Maths can be used to improve any situation, according to Fry, who said that if you want to get the most out of something, there is a mathematical way of doing so and Christmas is no exception.

Fry’s book is full of formulas to improve the festive experience, including the best way to decorate a tree, calculating how to win at monopoly and how to maximise your own enjoyment when giving gifts.

Also in the podcast, Róisín spoke to her daughters Joya and Priya, fresh from their trip to Lapland to meet Santa Claus. The twins reported back in great detail on the goings on in the North Pole and confirmed the existence of Santa’s Elves, some of whom have been around for more than 200 years.

Paddy Casey stopped by the studio recently and recorded an original Christmas song, which also features in the podcast.

To listen to Hannah Fry talk Christmas and Maths, hear Joya & Priya’s Lapland report and Paddy Casey sing his festive ditty, go to Soundcloud, iTunes, Stitcher or irishtimes.com