Nov 10
The Grand Cinema Tacoma, WA
TicketsNatalie Hobson
Professor of Mathematics, Tacoma Community College
Clue— Mystery, Murder, and Mathematics: Logic Behind the Clues
Program Description
Before the murder mystery unfolds on screen, we’ll warm up with mystery-solving of our own. Using logic puzzles and truth tables—the mathematician’s magnifying glass—we’ll explore how statements can be combined, negated, and tested for consistency. By practicing how to track possibilities and eliminate contradictions, we’ll see how careful reasoning helps us separate truth from lies and prove statements. Think of it as detective training, math-style.
Film Synopsis
Six guests are anonymously invited to a strange mansion for dinner. Can they identify the murderer as the bodies pile up?
Six blackmail victims are invited to an isolated mansion by a man who knows a dark secret from each of their pasts. On arrival, each is given a pseudonym drawn from Cluedo before being introduced to the blackmailer. Each is handed a weapon, at which point the lights are switched off and the blackmailer is killed. Can the guests uncover the murderer before they all become victims?
About the Speaker
Natalie Hobson is a Professor of Mathematics at Tacoma Community College. She holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics and a Master’s in Education from the University of Georgia. She enjoys helping people see the playful and practical sides of math.