Summer of Math Exposition

I think the level of math here was a bit inconsistent. At times you were spelling everything out, other times you only spent a few frames looking at some algebra! For me, it also lacked a bit of that ‘wow’ factor that I look for in one of these videos. Very informative though, thanks for your submission!

This is incredible. I like that you get to the mysteries quickly without a long intro or detour into motivation. It’s well-paced. Everything builds logically and is well-animated. There are some animation artifacts, but they don’t hurt the video. I like that there is a clear narrative with tie-ins to different topics.

i suggest writing “magic square of square numbers” in the video’s description somewhere. I thought the video would be about something else. This may make it easier for someone searching from that problem.

It’s a little disappointing that there isn’t a neat solution.

I want to mention that there is a cute diagrammatic and simple explanation for Euclid’s Formula in the prologue of the pop sci book, Elliptic Curves.

I think you voice style and passion are kind of like TheGrayCuber.

3D perspective is quite special, but some animations are not precise.

I can feel how much effort you pay to make visualization, and I like them.

The end is kind of tragic, but a lot of math question just don’t have a easy solution.

the visuals were good , the topic explained in a good way just that i didnt find it was very unique or thought provoking

Worst case, if you don’t solve this, you might be able to put your best attempt alongside the Parker Square and have something you’ll never live down…

That was a great explanation of a complicated topic. It showed the basics of magic squares well. The animations were fantastic and clearly very specifically tailored to the topic.

There are some pretty big conceptual jumps within the narrative. I think coming back to the starting point to illustrate how the S and D actually create the magic square in the simple 3x3 case filling out each square 1 at a time. Then make it more clear in the magic square of squares by trying to fill out each square and showing where you get stuck. Then saying ” So now we need to find this non dimensional D, which in our example would give us a number to go here”.

I lost what you were saying in the last part of the graph with the non dimensional D. It would probably be better to spend more time on the first part which more viewers will understand, then do the complicated part at the end faster. Because people who want to understand it will probably need to rewatch anyway.

It was an amazing attempt to make a difficult topic accessible. In the criteria. High in motivation memorability and novelty but lacking in clarity.

I really enjoyed his personality and how he let it show in the voiceover. I only ask for even more weirdness. Also just very well-done on voicing, I assume it’s scripted but I never noticed it in how it’s being read. Animations were fantastic and aesthetically mesmerizing at times (~4:30) I also love that it shows a failed attempt and admits it, which is very unique on Youtube.

However, I was pretty much lost after the triangles came in around 4:30. He didn’t immediately explain what the triangles mean and then as more equations got thrown around, I was left behind. Overall it was still a really enjoyable video because of the upsides.

I got lost on this video, despite pretty good presentation and production values. Despite keeping the variables from going crazy. It was just in some way beyond my reach. Maybe it was like describing why I find millipede videos by Boogey Down Bugs on Instagram the epitome of beauty as long as the music is turned off. You either get millipedes or you don’t. I didn’t get this, and I don’t think it was the creator’s fault. He did a great job of explaining the traditional magic square. The rest is a level issue, and sometimes that is not the creator’s fault.

Great job!

I found your shtick a bit annoying, but the explanations and visualisations themselves were quite nice!

This is a great exposition. The idea itself seems to originate from a playful pun, which is wonderfully geeky, but the creator manages to turn that simple idea into a compelling mathematical journey. The problem is accessible enough to follow even without much mathematical background, while still offering interesting mathematical ideas for those who want to dig deeper.

What I particularly liked is that the video documents the actual process of trying to solve a problem, rather than presenting only a polished solution. I think this is a perfect fit for SoME: even though the attempt ultimately does not lead to a solution, the journey itself is mathematically interesting. It gives the viewer a sense of what doing mathematics can actually look like - trying ideas, exploring possibilities, and sometimes failing.

The storytelling is another major strength. The creator has a very engaging personality and a great ability to make the viewer want to keep watching. I never felt that I was simply being presented with mathematical facts; I felt like I was following the creator on a year-long adventure. The animations and visualizations elevate the exposition even further and make the mathematical ideas much easier and more enjoyable to follow.

It is also impressive to see how much thought, persistence, and effort went into pursuing this problem over such a long period. Even without a successful solution at the end, that commitment gives the whole project a sense of authenticity and makes the journey itself feel worthwhile.

Overall, the video is memorable because it combines a quirky mathematical problem, genuine mathematical exploration, strong storytelling, and excellent visual communication. More than anything, it made me feel like I was witnessing mathematics being done rather than simply being taught, which is exactly what makes this kind of exposition so compelling.