Numbers for Nerds

Dateline: January 2, 2010

01022010

Notice anything?  That’s right–today’s date is a palindrome!

The New Year brings a little fun for math fans besides calculating bowl game odds, with Jan. 2, 2010 being a “palindrome” date.

Palindrome words read the same backwards and forwards, such as “racecar” or “kayak.” Palindrome dates, such as 01-02-2010, 01022010, are reversible too, says engineering professor Aziz Inan of the University of Portland (Ore.)

“Palindrome dates are a fascinating subject for those who have (an) interest in popular or recreational mathematics,” says Inan, a noted collector of numerical dates. The last palindrome date was October 2, 2001 (10022001), and the next one falls November 2, 2011   (11022011), with a total of 12 such dates falling in this century.  (source)

Anyone for some ‘recreational mathematics’?