The mathematical formula that spells your name!
The Global Math Project and the National Math Festival have teamed up to celebrate Global Math Week 2017 with fun formulas for everyone. Come get your very own Personal Polynomial!
What’s a polynomial? Just a type of math expression.
What’s your Personal Polynomial? Find out by typing your name below!
Type your name:
Personal Polynomial
Designed by Branden Stone in cooperation with the MSRI and the Global Math Project 
Under the Hood with James Tanton
How to interpret your Personal Polynomial
Here's a very quick video giving a very quick overview
Here's a less quick, but still quick, video going over the details a little more slowly
If you prefer to read, here’s a little description:
Say your names is JAMES. (How coincidental! That is my name!)
The Personal Polynomial for James is
P(x) = 8324 x4 - 49712 x3 + 414124 x2 - 346312 x + 164.
And how does this spell James?
Well, put in the value 1 for x, work out the arithmetic, and see that that value 10 results. And what is the tenth letter of the alphabet? It’s J!
Put in the value 2 for x, work out the arithmetic, and see that the value 1 results. And what is the first letter of the alphabet? It’s A!
Keep doing this and see JAMES appear.
| P(1) | = 10 | = J |
| P(2) | = 1 | = a |
| P(3) | = 13 | = m |
| P(4) | = 5 | = e |
| P(5) | = 19 | = s |
Amaze your friends and family, and share your polynomial with the world!
The math behind the scenes
Do you want to see how these polynomials are made? It’s school algebra. Click here for a third video that explains all the mathematics.
Your Personal Polynomial is unique to you. No other polynomial of the same or smaller degree spells your name!
More math
See the National Math Festival site for more math.
Take part in the world’s biggest community math event, ever! Global Math Week 2017.
