Mathematics

Decades after the landmark proof of Fermat’s Last Theorem, ideas abound for how to make it even more reliable. But such efforts reflect a deep misunderstanding of what makes the proof so important.

A little high school geometry can help you understand the basic math behind movie recommendation engines.

Mathematicians used “magic functions” to prove that two highly symmetric lattices solve a myriad of problems in eight- and 24-dimensional space.

It’s an educated guess, not a proof. But a good conjecture will guide math forward, pointing the way into the mathematical unknown.

Mathematicians have found that materials conduct electricity when electrons follow a universal mathematical pattern.

Quantum computers can’t selectively forget information. A new algorithm for multiplication shows a way around that problem.

By chopping up large numbers into smaller ones, researchers have rewritten a fundamental mathematical speed limit.

In a world seemingly filled with chaos, physicists have discovered new forms of synchronization and are learning how to predict and control them.

Just how fast can the fastest human run? This adapted book excerpt from Infinite Powers reveals how calculus helps us investigate the nature of motion and change.