Add new comment
-
Want facts and want them fast? Our Maths in a minute series explores key mathematical concepts in just a few words.
Weird and wonderful things can happen when you set a ball in motion on a billiard table — and the theory of mathematical billiards has recently seen a breakthrough.
Was vaccinating vulnerable people first a good choice? Hindsight allows us to assess this question.
A game you're almost certain to lose...
What are the challenges of communicating from the frontiers of mathematical research, and why should we be doing it?
Celebrate Pi Day with the stars of our podcast, Maths on the move!
Dear Plus,
Great to hear updates from the ICM, thanks!
I'm a bit puzzled by something in this post, though, namely the statistic you quote about literacy in Paraguay. I'm not sure I understand. Mightn't it be the case that for every 100 men who can read and write, there are 200 illiterate men, whereas for every 100 women who can read and write, there are 88 illiterate women? In that case, the literacy figures would be much worse for men than women, which I think is the opposite of what you were trying to suggest. I don't believe this is the case, and I haven't tried to look up the figures, but I don't see how I can draw any meaningful conclusions from the knowledge that for every 100 literate men, there are 88 illiterate women. Can you help?
Thanks,
Vicky