Description

Let’s make equations musical. Instead of visualizing equations on a graph, let’s listen to them on the piano, merging all our math and music knowledge. You can make two-dimensional x-y math equations audible – or sonify them – by translating the x-values to time and the y-values to the keys of a piano. If you can’t play them on the piano yourself, we can use the free web app Chordinates! by Pios Labs to do it instead. Listen to the sound of coordinates, linear equations, polynomials, trigonometric functions, and random distributions of notes on the piano, and analyze their patterns. Then take the audio review quiz at the end, complete with extended creative and technical challenges. Got your own reactions to this episode? Would love to hear your thoughts.

Equations referenced:

• y = x
• y = 2x
• y = 5x
• y = -2x
• Linear equation, minor scale
• Linear equation, chromatic scale
• y = x²
• y = (1/10)x²
• y = (-1/4)x² + 20, free rhythm
• y = -(1/100)x³ - (1/5)x² + 3x + 3, free rhythm
• y = sin(x), free rhythm
• y = 16sin(x), free rhythm
• y = 16sin(x) + 12, free rhythm
• y = 16sin(x) + 12, steady rhythm
• y = 5tan((1/2)x), free rhythm
• y = 5tan((1/2)x), steady rhythm
• Square wave, amplitude = 2, offset = 2, major 3rd harmony
• y = uniform random distribution, from -23 to 28
• y = uniform random distribution, from -10 to 10
• y = normal random distribution, mean = 0, SD = 5,
• y = normal random distribution, mean = -8, SD = 5
• y = normal random distribution, mean = -8, SD = 2
• y = 5sin((1/2)(x - 4)) - 5
• y = -2x - 20
• y = -x
• y = -0.08(x - 8)(x + 16)
• y = 6sgn(cos(x)) - 5
• y = -0.01x³ - 0.2x² + 3x + 3

Music credits (All under Creative Commons 0 Licenses):

• Tyler Schanck, The Wandermiles
• Doctor Dreamchip
• Moz5a
• Sondre Drakensson
• Eathan Markson
• Don Veca
• Komit
• Epon Audio
• Nate Ziller
• Julian Evans