A Trip Down Euler Lane is an interactive exploration of Euler’s constant, e. Using an artistic lens, it spans eight topics, ranging from the Logistic Equation to permutations. Some of the principles and prompts require a basic comprehension of calculus but others require nothing, offering something for everyone, for every level of math knowledge and every type of learner. And yet it also challenges the viewer to approach the problems it presents, some open-ended and some definitive, from a more creative, outside-of-the-box perspective, with critical thinking skills in mind. One will notice that the page numbers grow toward e in a compounded fashion, with divisions into years, semesters, trimesters, quarters, months, etc. The front and back cover of the booklet is a piece I created by hand that details the irrational nature of e, as well as its original explorer, Leonhard Euler, who is deservedly presented as a superhero (once again, the page numbers appear–this time around the emblematic e). All in all, A Trip Down Euler Lane is an homage to Euler’s brilliant work involving e and a reflection on the far-reaching applications of the number that have arisen within the math community and beyond. e is a number first learned in algebra when discussing interest, and yet its capabilities, power, and allure are boundless and extend into so many branches of STEM. I hope, if nothing else, this booklet will excite its viewers about e and the beauty of math. Enjoy!
Sarah Gorbatov, senior at The Idea School