Chocolate and Mathematics ~ The Story of Milo

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• published: 20 Apr 2015
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What does chocolate have to do with mathematics? More precisely, what does a chocolate drink have to do with mathematics? In Australia, we have a fortified chocolate drink (similar to Ovaltine and Akta-Vite) called Milo. It was developed by an industrial chemist, Thomas Mayne, in 1934 for Nestlé in order to provide a fortified drink for children suffering poor nutrition during the Great Depression. It is sold in different forms around the world, but not in the United States (you can learn a little about it here ~ http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/things-you-never-knew-about-milo/story-fneuz92c-1226885310718). It was named 'Milo' after an amazingly strong Greek wrestler and athlete of that name. The original Milo lived in a Greek colony (called Kroton) in southern Italy during the second half of the sixth century BC (probably about 558 BC to, vaguely, 510 BC). You may like to read the Wikipedia article about him ~ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milo_of_Croton. He competed in the original Olympic Games and won the open wrestling event for SIX SUCCESSIVE OLYMPICS, which must surely be a record! He was defeated only in his seventh Olympic competition. Accounts of his life relate that he trained by squatting with a young calf on his shoulders each day and continuing the process until it was a 4-year-old cow (or bull). He is usually depicted this way. Since the original Milo drink was marketed as a strength drink (and named after Milo of Croton), it featured a picture of him carrying the bull on the front of the can. What does all this have to do with mathematics? Well, Milo was an admiring student of a very famous mathematician. To find out who it was and why the Milo drink reminds me of him ... you will have to watch the video :-) I hope you enjoy it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ One of the images in the video is of strong man, Robert Edwards, who emulated Milo's feat by lifting a newborn bull regularly until it weighed 800 lb (about 360 kg). You may read a little more about him here ~ http://content.tigerfitness.com/milo-croton-knew-strength-training/. I could not identify the name of the young woman squatting the calf. There are other images of her performing this feat but they are on a blog site with no identification. You can read more at http://tnation.t-nation.com/free_online_forum/sports_women_training_performance_sorority/velocity_diet_journal_12_jan?pageNo=33 and http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=141119331. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GRANDPA'S SHED Because of this connection, and because I like to teach my students using objects, I have searched for one of these early Milo tins for many years. Only today (19 April 2015) was I able to obtain one, and it is featured in this video. I wish to express a huge 'thank you' to Duncan and Tony from an antique store called "Grandpa's Shed" in Fitzroy Falls in the Southern Highlands, just south of Sydney. Tony kindly sold me this tin from his personal collection. If you live near Fitzroy Falls, just visiting "Grandpa's Shed" will provide you with an education. Duncan and Tony haven't bothered with setting up their own website, but you can see a photograph of the front of the store, and another of the inside, if you visit https://terinaandkeith.wordpress.com/2015-the-eastern-tour/lakes-entrance-to-kangaroo-valley/. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For more information about mathematics or how to study, visit my website, Crystal Clear Mathematics at http://www.crystalclearmaths.com/ If you wish to be kept up to date with what I am producing on the website (ad free, spam free, cost free mathematics and study materials), please add your name to the mailing list there. Download my FREE 32 page PDF "How to Study" booklet at http://www.crystalclearmaths.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/How-to-Study-Mathematics-V2.pdf. Best wishes for your study and your mathematics! Thank you.