The Colbert Report Season 6 Episode 15 Arthur Benjamin

Arthur Benjamin, a mathematician, magician, and "mathemagician," appears on The Colbert Report in season 6 episode 15. Benjamin is known for his entertaining presentations that combine his love for mathematics and magic. He has performed on a number of television shows, including the Today Show, The Early Show, and The Tonight Show. On this episode of The Colbert Report, host Stephen Colbert interviews Benjamin about his unusual career.

Colbert opens the interview by asking Benjamin about his background in math. Benjamin explains that he has loved math since he was a child, and that he used to spend hours working on math problems for fun. He says that he was always fascinated by the idea of finding solutions to problems, and that he eventually went on to study mathematics in college. When Colbert asks him how he became interested in magic, Benjamin explains that he was inspired by a magician he saw on TV when he was a child. He says that he was amazed by the way the magician was able to make objects disappear and reappear, and that he decided to start learning magic tricks himself.

The conversation then turns to Benjamin's unusual combination of math and magic. Colbert asks him how he got the idea to combine the two, and Benjamin says that it was a natural progression. He explains that he was always looking for ways to make math more interesting and engaging for people, and that magic was a great way to do that. He says that he started incorporating math into his magic tricks, and that it was a hit with audiences. Colbert asks him to demonstrate a math trick, and Benjamin obliges. He performs a fast-paced mental calculation that leaves Colbert and the audience in awe.

The interview then turns to Benjamin's work as an educator. He explains that he is passionate about teaching people about math, and that he has conducted workshops and lectures all over the world. He says that he is especially interested in helping kids see the fun and excitement in math, and that he believes that everyone has the potential to be good at it. Colbert asks him about the stereotype that math is "boring," and Benjamin says that he thinks that's a misconception. He explains that math is all around us, and that it's actually quite fascinating. He says that he loves showing people how math can be used to solve real-world problems, and that it's rewarding to see people's eyes light up when they finally understand a concept.

The conversation then turns to Benjamin's book, "The Magic of Math: Solving for x and Figuring Out Why." Colbert asks him to explain the concept behind the book, and Benjamin says that it's all about showing people how math can be fun and exciting. He says that he uses magic tricks and fun anecdotes to teach people about math concepts like algebra, probability, and geometry. Colbert asks him if he thinks that people can really learn math from a book, and Benjamin says that he believes they can. He says that the book is designed to be engaging and entertaining, and that it's a great way for people to learn at their own pace.

The interview ends with Colbert thanking Benjamin for coming on the show. He says that he is impressed by Benjamin's ability to make math fun, and that he hopes that more people will be inspired by his work. Benjamin thanks Colbert for the opportunity to appear on the show, and says that he hopes that he has been able to show people that math can be exciting and entertaining.