CAN dogs do calculus? Well no, not the way college students do it. For one thing, dogs usually get the right answer. When chasing a ball thrown into a lake, dogs run along the beach and then choose just the right point to jump into the water to reach the ball in the shortest time. To solve this problem on paper takes time and calculus, but canine brains seem to work it out swiftly and instinctively.
Keith Devlin asserts that there are two kinds of maths: natural and symbolic. Natural maths has evolved over millions of years, giving both animals…
