A mathematician explores the cat-and-mouse problem
by Mark Frauenfelder from on (#4G1C5)
A swimming mouse is in a circular pond. A non-swimming cat on the perimeter of the pond can run four times as fast as the mouse can swim and will always run in the most optimal way around the pond to catch the mouse. The mouse can run faster than the cat. The question: can the mouse get away from the cat? Mathematician Ben Sparks explores different methods the mouse can try.
Image: Numberphile/YouTube