James Bond and Math- Two of a Kind

By Joe Pagano

Anyone who has watched any of the classic James Bond movies, particularly the earlier ones like Diamonds are Forever with Sean Connery, and Live and Let Die with Roger Moore, knows that the man with the plan, namely Agent 007, was beyond cool. He could woo the beauties like no other, defend himself in any of a dozen ways, get out of the tightest spots imaginable, and adapt comfortably to any situation, whether this find him trapped in a sewer with rats, or cavorting in a tuxedo while attending the latest royal function. With all his debonair mannerisms and sophisticated abilities, do you really think James Bond was a pushover in math? I highly doubt it.

Ian Flemming’s memorable character was the coolest of cool. Bond could dazzle you in a number of foreign languages, wow you with a swagger of martial arts moves, and amuse you with a sense of humor during life threatening circumstances. He was up on the latest technology, knew the ins and outs of the most intricate gadgetry, and could speak glibly on any of a number of subjects, regardless of how arcane they might be. As fictionalized as the Bond character is, the inescapable conclusion we draw from this personification is that knowledge is cool, and knowledge is power. Bond drew on his ramified knowledge and abilities to save both himself and others and to reap immensely gratifying rewards. What could be bad with this?

Bond, for sure, knew his math, and could dazzle with his mathematical prowess. This inference is easy to make from his characterization and from the entangled plots we find him in. Bond used his sharp wit to outwit the villain every time; moreover, Bond used his calculating mind to figure out the optimal way out of a jam and the best way to save his skin. It is obvious from the storylines that Bond was the coolest of mathematicians.

So what do we draw from these observations? We may not all be able to be cool like Bond. Indeed, Bond represents, I venture to say, the quintessence of cool. However, we see that being cool means being good at things like math. This is the message we need to get across to our kids. So maybe instead of letting them watch the Harry Potter movies, you should get them into some Bond films. After all, this character was a big influence on my early development, and I became an A student in math. What a coincidence!

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Joe is a prolific writer of self-help and educational material and an award-winning former teacher of both college and high school mathematics. Under the penname, JC Page, Joe authored Arithmetic Magic, the little classic on the ABC’s of arithmetic. Joe is also author of the charming self-help ebook, Making a Good Impression Every Time: The Secret to Instant Popularity; the original collection of poetry, Poems for the Mathematically Insecure, and the short but highly effective fraction troubleshooter Fractions for the Faint of Heart. The diverse genre of his writings (novel, short story, essay, script, and poetry)—particularly in regard to its educational flavor— continues to captivate readers and to earn him recognition.

Joe propagates his teaching philosophy through his articles and books and is dedicated to helping educate children living in impoverished countries. Toward this end, he donates a portion of the proceeds from the sale of every ebook. For more information go to http://www.mathbyjoe.com .
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