Episode 101
Simulating Numb3rs: Pilot
Snapshot of the simlutaion:
- Ray casting algorithm
- Gamma distribution
- Uniform distribution
This edition of “Simulating Numb3rs” is dedicated to reconstructing the case from Episode 1 of the TV series “Numb3rs” by generating synthetic datasets using computational simulations and techniques used in geographic profiling. If you haven’t watched Numb3rs yet, then it a must watch for applied math enthusiasts, as it brilliantly focuses on breaking down the mathematical twists and investigative techniques to solve complex cases.
The episode opens with a tense investigation as FBI Agent Don Eppes and his team grapple with a series of escalating crimes across Southland. In their pursuit, Agent Eppes turns to his brother Charlie, a mathematical genius, and describes the serial perpetrator’s behaviour to him as being driven by his needs:
- He watches potential victims while avoiding detection, indicating a strategic approach to selecting targets.
- He covers a wide region but avoids committing crimes near his home, creating a “buffer zone.”
- There is a distance decay effect — the more intense his desire to commit the crime, the further he will travel to do so
