Maths in a minute

Want facts and want them fast? Our Maths in a minute series explores key mathematical concepts in just a few words. From symmetry to Euclid's axioms, and from binary numbers to the prosecutor's fallacy, learn some maths without too much effort.

Maths in a minute: Peano arithmetic

How would you explain the natural numbers to an alien devoid of a number instinct? You could try Peano arithmetic...

Maths in a minute: Thermodynamics

Tea gone cold? Don't worry, you can cheer yourself up with the theory of thermodynamics.

Maths in a minute: Numerical weather prediction

How does your phone know what the weather's going to be like?

Maths in a minute: Correlation versus causation

Wet cats don't cause umbrellas and umbrellas don't cause wet cats.

Maths in a minute: Percentage error

How good is your estimate?

Maths in a minute: Dispersion

If you've ever marvelled at a rainbow, you have witnessed dispersion in action!

Maths in a minute: Combinatorics

Whether you want to understand viruses, win at lotto or solve a rubik's cube – you'll need some help from combinatorics.

Maths in a minute: Utility theory

A hundred pounds is a lot more to someone who's poor than to a millionaire. But how do you measure such differences? Utility theory has the answer.

Maths in five minutes: Calculus

Curious about calculus? This accessible introduction is for you!

Maths in a minute: Limits

Find out about the beautifully intuitive concept that lies at the heart of calculus.

Maths in a minute: Topology

When you let go of the notions of distance, area, and angles, all you are left with is holes.

Maths in a minute: Statistical mechanics

Bridging the gap between the microscopic snd the macroscopic.

  • Want facts and want them fast? Our Maths in a minute series explores key mathematical concepts in just a few words.

  • What do chocolate and mayonnaise have in common? It's maths! Find out how in this podcast featuring engineer Valerie Pinfield.

  • Is it possible to write unique music with the limited quantity of notes and chords available? We ask musician Oli Freke!

  • How can maths help to understand the Southern Ocean, a vital component of the Earth's climate system?

  • Was the mathematical modelling projecting the course of the pandemic too pessimistic, or were the projections justified? Matt Keeling tells our colleagues from SBIDER about the COVID models that fed into public policy.

  • PhD student Daniel Kreuter tells us about his work on the BloodCounts! project, which uses maths to make optimal use of the billions of blood tests performed every year around the globe.