Articles

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Social distancing: How close is safe?How far can virus-carrying droplets fly in different environments — from buses to supermarkets? Maths can provide some answers.
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The problem with combining R ratiosWe explore why you need to be extremely careful when combining the reproduction ratios of a disease in different settings, such as hospitals and the community.
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Maths in a minute: Differential equationsChange is the only constant in our lives — which is why differential equations are so useful.
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How to resolve the Premier LeagueAs football leagues around the world have been suspended due to COVID-19, how should the final rankings of teams be decided? Here is a suggestion.
Maths in a minute: the Fibonacci sequenceThe origin story of this famous sequences stars some cute, fluffy bunnies.
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Maths in a minute: EntropyIs it about energy? Is it about disorder? Or is it about information? It's all three!
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Maths in a minute: "R nought" and herd immunityWhat is herd immunity and what does it have to do with a number called R0?
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A call to action on COVID-19An urgent call has gone out to the scientific modelling community to help fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Two Cambridge mathematicians are helping to lead the charge.
Maths in a minute: Voronoi diagramsWe look at a crafty mathematical device which, among other things, has helped people understand what causes cholera.
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How can maths fight a pandemic?How do mathematical models of COVID-19 work and should we believe them? We talk to an epidemiologist, who has been working flat out to inform the government, to find out more.
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Maths in a minute: Social distancing How should people arrange themselves for maximal socialising at a safe distance?
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Myths of maths: The Monty Hall problemThis puzzle is famous because the accepted answer is counter-intuitive. But is it always correct?