Math

In 2013 a new user named Cleo took an online math forum by storm with unproved answers. Today she’s an urban legend. But who was she? A 2023 editor's pick. 

Here’s a look at the $1-million math problem at the heart of computation

Large language model does better than human mathematicians trying to solve combinatorics problems inspired by the card game Set

One safe, five sons and betrayal: this principle shows how shared knowledge can protect secrets—without having to trust anyone

A mathematician and a musician collaborated to turn a quantum research paper into a jazz performance

This early feminist fought for the credit she deserved for her deductive reasoning system and her educational qualifications

The sand drawings of Vanuatu follow principles from a branch of mathematics known as graph theory

The surprisingly subtle math behind the Powerball and Mega Millions

A generator equation can spit out many prime numbers, but it leaves important mathematical questions unanswered

Graphics reveal the intricate math behind ranked choice voting and how to design the best electoral system, sometimes with bizarre outcomes

The number 1 is among the happiest numbers, 4 is sad, and both are narcissistic

The “principle of explosion” explains why a single contradiction would destroy math