Turning My Pants Inside Out Without Taking Them Off
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Is it possible to turn your pants inside out without taking them off? I heard that Dr. Michael Starbird, a math professor at UT, can do it, so I tried to figure out how. Using principles of topology (Shouldn’t topology be the study of tops?…But then I would have to reverse my shirt instead of my pants…), I show my solution to my math class.
Disclaimer: For those of you considering having a cup of coffee and a donut after watching this video, please find your coffee mug and donut ahead of time because after watching this, you may not be able to tell the difference.
Featuring “Latin Thing” by Fortune available at www.garageband.com.
Special thanks to Amber, Dr. Smith, and my SCI 360 class.
Posted: November 11th, 2007 under Experiments.
Comments: 10
Comments
Comment from Becky
Time: November 11, 2007, 7:12 pm
My thoughts: depends on the pants!! You got the best pant option…now can you do it with your jeans??? Now there would be a true feat!
You still are #1 on our pant list!
Becky and Dan
Comment from Lauren
Time: November 11, 2007, 9:53 pm
I love that you made those pants from scrach and figured it all out. You’re so great… the video left me panting in excitement! 
Comment from Megan
Time: November 12, 2007, 2:15 pm
Um. That’s not what my grad school is like. I’m dropping out.
Comment from Tim
Time: November 12, 2007, 11:49 pm
yeah i’m going to have to agree with megan. i feel cheated with my grad school.
Comment from Emily
Time: November 14, 2007, 5:04 am
MORE MORE! I want more videos. You know in the UK, pants means underwear…wouldn’t that be awkward…turning those inside out…
sorry…
LOVE YOU, ROOMIE!
Comment from Kathleen
Time: November 14, 2007, 4:40 pm
Those pants are quite fashionable! That process reminds me of how because of soccer I became an expert at changing shorts in front of people modestly by putting one pair on top of the other, then taking the pair that’s underneath off.
Comment from Jenn Smith
Time: November 27, 2007, 8:17 pm
The video turned out great! Have you sent it to Mike Starbird?
Comment from Carmen
Time: November 28, 2007, 5:33 am
Thanks Dr. Smith! I’ve heard through the grapevine that Dr. Starbird did watch it.
Emily, if you think about it, all you need is some really stretchy underwear…hmm…maybe that’s another video…on second thought, maybe not
If a mathematician starts to reverse her clothes using this process, would she be a Mobius stripper? Anyone? Anyone? or would that be a mathematician whose clothes only have an outside and no inside?
Comment from Naomi
Time: December 5, 2007, 2:17 am
Thanks so much Carmen. We are learning about topology in class, and by the way I get the Mobius Strip joke, nice!
Comment from Stephanie (age 28)
Time: December 17, 2007, 9:55 pm
I think that makes you a mathemagician!
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