How Many Pikachus Would It Take to Power a Lightbulb?: And Other Adventures at the Frontiers of Fantasy Mathematics

From Oxford lecturer in mathematics and math YouTuber Tom Crawford, a humorous, rigorous, and surprisingly profound dive into the math of popular culture

How would an actuary price out the risk of Frodo Baggins’s journey to Mount Doom? How many calories must Charizard consume each day to keep his flaming tail alight? And just how fast is Sonic the Hedgehog?

For most of us, such thoughts are passing curiosities, as we immerse ourselves in our favorite movie, TV show, or video game. For mathematician Tom Crawford, these are questions that demand answers, and this book will provide them. Each chapter of How Many Pikachus Would It Take to Power a Lightbulb? is devoted to the math of a pop culture world: The Lord of the Rings; Pokémon; Harry Potter; Star Wars; the MCU; and Nintendo. Along the way, readers will learn about risk, probability, the laws of physics, and, of course, how best to defeat the Avengers.

Breathtakingly fun and original, this is the perfect gift for the pop culture nerd in your life.