Driving + Math = Fun

Ok-- I'm the first to admit that this post isn't about mapping per se, but I think this idea is quite clever and could be useful to math and geography educators.

Jamie Thingelstad has created a web site called Road Sign Math that challenges travellers to find mathematical relationships on highway signage, such as found on this one:

3 x 33 = 99

Users are encouraged to find their own local signs and add them to the database, which in turn adds them to a Google mash-up.

Not all mathematically significant road signs are created equal. Some signs are simply more interesting and exciting than others. Signs are scored in two categories, technical and elegance. High scores in either category are desired, and a total score is computed by adding the technical and elegance scores together.