The Mathematical Significance of Pi
For Pi Day, a mathematician breaks down a figure that goes beyond the universal.
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Mathematics
36 posts
How Prime Numbers Are Used for Cybersecurity
It may seem odd to spend enormous amounts of time to discover new prime numbers, but these figures play a key role in keeping information safe in the digital age.
Alien Algorithms
A data scientist examines the ways in which we put our trust in data we don’t understand. By…
Blame Math for Women’s Inconsistency in Tennis
New research shows that playing five sets per match instead of three would close most of the gap between male and female players.
Cracking the Code of the New Economy: You Don’t Need a STEM Degree to Work in a STEM Field
Don’t be afraid to stick with your liberal arts education. If history is any guide, it could be just as valuable as knowing how to write code.
The Mona Lisa Landscape Was Probably a Studio Backdrop
Researchers compared the Mona Lisa's background with the hills shown in its stereo pair. In doing so, they revealed a da Vinci secret.
The Dangerous Mathematical Con of Hedge Funds and Financial Advisers
Using too many trials to design investment algorithms renders them statistically useless and potentially devastating.
The STEM Talent Shortage Debate
Do today's high school students prefer to take the AP Art History exam over AP Biology?
Can Physics Solve Custody Battles?
Parents with multiple ex-partners and children can plan their weekend custody schedules with a not-so-simple mathematical model.
Mapping (and Potentially Preventing) Crime With Math
Mathematicians propose using the “Lévy flight” model to reveal and police hotspots of crime.