Pradeep Mutalik

Puzzle Columnist

Latest Articles

The Secrets of Zugzwang in Chess, Math and Pizzas

April 8, 2022

Learn the magic and math of how to win games when your opponent goes first.

Play First and Lose: Zugzwang in Chess, Math and Pizzas

February 22, 2022

How to win games by going second and leaving your opponent with no good options.

Why e, the Transcendental Math Constant, Is Just the Best

November 24, 2021

The solution to our puzzle about Euler’s number explains why e pops up in situations that involve optimality.

Where Transcendental Numbers Hide in Everyday Math

October 27, 2021

The transcendental number π is as familiar as it is ubiquitous, but how does Euler’s number e transcend the ordinary?

Math Can, in Theory, Help You Escape a Hungry Bear

August 25, 2021

How readers used their geometry skills to survive a dangerous puzzle.

Can Math Help You Escape a Hungry Bear?

June 29, 2021

In this month’s puzzle, math is a question of life or death.

How a Simple Arithmetic Puzzle Can Guide Discovery

May 28, 2021

Playing with numbers can lead to deep mathematical and scientific insights.

The Puzzling Power of Simple Arithmetic

April 20, 2021

Playing with arithmetic can lead us to unexpected and profound discoveries that point toward deeper mathematics and sometimes even deeper science.

Finding Zen in the Art of Puzzle Solving

March 26, 2021

Readers used their Zen-like puzzle solving skills to discover hidden insights.

Get highlights of the most important news delivered to your email inbox