Uploaded February 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Pre-order Love Triangle on Maths Gear now and get a signed copy! Also, a special book cover if you're fast enough. mathsgear.co.uk/products/love-triangle-by-matt-parker-signed
UK edition out 20 June, pre-order options: bit.ly/UKLoveTriangle
USA edition out 20 August, pre-order options: bit.ly/3wCTesR
Here are the fantastic GeoGebra files Ben Sparks made for the video.
Modulated 1 bit: geogebra.org/m/bndn54th
Modulated 2 bit: geogebra.org/m/enkymjtg
Constellations: geogebra.org/m/fff3aqvn
Sum of waves: geogebra.org/m/trjxxf9p
Huge thanks to my Patreon supports. They enable me to be outstanding in a field. patreon.com/standupmaths
CORRECTIONS
- 07:15, don't ask why that circle is there. It's not a clue. I just forgot to turn off a layer in photoshop.
- At 10:06 I didn't show the Gray Code paths which loop around the diagram. But you get the idea.
- Yes, I spelled "Pello!" in the hidden binary message instead of "Hello!". It was an idea I had at the last second and I didn't double check where I was clicking!
- Let me know if you spot anything!
Filming and editing by Alex Genn-Bash
Written and performed by Matt Parker
Geogebra files by Ben Sparks
Produced by Nicole Jacobus
Music by Howard Carter
Design by Simon Wright and Adam Robinson
MATT PARKER: Stand-up Mathematician
Website: standupmaths.com
US book: penguinrandomhouse.com/books/610964/humble-pi-by-matt-parker
UK book: mathsgear.co.uk/collections/books/products/humble-pi-signed-paperback
Pre-order Love Triangle on Maths Gear now and get a signed copy! Also, a special book cover if you're fast enough. mathsgear.co.uk/products/love-triangle-by-matt-parker-signed
UK edition out 20 June, pre-order options: bit.ly/UKLoveTriangle
USA edition out 20 August, pre-order options: bit.ly/3wCTesR
Here are the fantastic GeoGebra files Ben Sparks made for the video.
Modulated 1 bit: geogebra.org/m/bndn54th
Modulated 2 bit: geogebra.org/m/enkymjtg
Constellations: geogebra.org/m/fff3aqvn
Sum of waves: geogebra.org/m/trjxxf9p
Huge thanks to my Patreon supports. They enable me to be outstanding in a field. patreon.com/standupmaths
CORRECTIONS
- 07:15, don't ask why that circle is there. It's not a clue. I just forgot to turn off a layer in photoshop.
- At 10:06 I didn't show the Gray Code paths which loop around the diagram. But you get the idea.
- Yes, I spelled "Pello!" in the hidden binary message instead of "Hello!". It was an idea I had at the last second and I didn't double check where I was clicking!
- Let me know if you spot anything!
Filming and editing by Alex Genn-Bash
Written and performed by Matt Parker
Geogebra files by Ben Sparks
Produced by Nicole Jacobus
Music by Howard Carter
Design by Simon Wright and Adam Robinson
MATT PARKER: Stand-up Mathematician
Website: standupmaths.com
US book: penguinrandomhouse.com/books/610964/humble-pi-by-matt-parker
UK book: mathsgear.co.uk/collections/books/products/humble-pi-signed-paperback
![I wired my tree with 500 LED lights and calculated their 3D coordinates.
If you support me on Patreon at any point in December 2020 I will film your name on my xmas tree while I give you a thumbs-up of appreciation. https://www.patreon.com/standupmaths
Huge thanks to Eugénie von Tunzelmann for helping me out with this video. You can see more of Eugénie in my General Relativity: Top 05 Mishaps [inc INTERSTELLAR] video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4oy6mnkyW4
Thanks to Ben Sparks for helping out with the GeoGebra file. You can try an online version here: https://www.geogebra.org/m/p2pdz6v2
And of course thanks to Howard Carter for yet one more remix of the Stand-up Maths theme song. The main theme is on bandcamp: https://standupmaths.bandcamp.com/ If there is enough demand well make a Christmas album.
Here is my code on github (along with the 3D coordinates of all 500 LEDs on my tree). If you have a program you would like to see run on my tree, email me matt@standupmaths.com
https://github.com/standupmaths/xmastree2020
My prototype LEDs were type WS2801 and wired to as Raspberry Pi Zero.
The WS2801 LEDs I used on Amazon. Other retailers are available.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MDJ3VBC/ref=sr_1_1?_encoding=UTF8&tag=stanupmath-21
I set-up the Pi to run headless (no monitor or keyboard) largely using this guide:
https://www.tomshardware.com/uk/reviews/raspberry-pi-headless-setup-how-to,6028.html
I followed this guide to wire and program the WS2801 LEDs. If you use an off-the-shelf power supply you do not need to worry about the mains wiring (which you should not do unless you are qualified).
https://tutorials-raspberrypi.com/how-to-control-a-raspberry-pi-ws2801-rgb-led-strip/
Then I switched the WS2811 LEDs because I could buy 500 of them (they are also cheaper). I also switched to a Raspberry Pi 3 because my Pi Zero didnt have wifi.
The WS2811 LEDs I used on Amazon. Other retailers are available.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0775CC559//ref=sr_1_1?_encoding=UTF8&tag=stanupmath-21
https://www.amazon.com/ALITOVE-Individually-Addressable-Advertising-Waterproof/dp/B0775CC559?_encoding=UTF8&tag=stanupmath-20
I wired up the WS2811 LEDs and coded them using this guide.
https://learn.adafruit.com/neopixels-on-raspberry-pi/raspberry-pi-wiring
CORRECTIONS:
- None yet. Let me know if you spot anything!
Thanks again, as always, for Jane Street being my principal sponsor.
https://www.janestreet.com/
Thanks to my Patreon supporters who funded those LEDs. If this video does well, Ill buy even more next year.
https://www.patreon.com/standupmaths
Filming and editing by Alex Genn-Bash and Matt Parker
Music by Howard Carter
Design by Simon Wright and Adam Robinson
MATT PARKER: Stand-up Mathematician
Website: http://standupmaths.com/
Maths book: http://wwwh.umble-pi.com
Nerdy maths toys: http://mathsgear.co.uk/ I wired my tree with 500 LED lights and calculated their 3D coordinates.](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TvlpIojusBE/mqdefault.jpg)









