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: Gravitational waves

A quick introduction to one of the greatest discoveries of the century.

Maths in a minute: Black holes

A quick introduction to the monsters that lurk at the centre of each galaxy.

Maths in a minute: The binomial distribution

The probability distribution that measures success and failure.

Maths in a minute: Polar coordinates

Polar coordinates are great for circles and spirals!

Maths in a minute: Cellular automata

Mindless games can produce surprising results.

Maths in a minute: Some basic linear programming

How to solve a tricky problem using a picture.

Maths in a minute: Linear regression

A useful tool for spotting trends in data.

Maths in a minute: Poincaré and the beginnings of chaos

How a maths competition spawned the foundations of chaos theory.

Maths in a minute: The golden ratio

A quick introduction to a famous number.

Maths in a minute: Penguins

We can't let penguin awareness day pass without a look at some penguin maths.

Maths in a minute: The graph isomorphism problem

How fast can you tell whether two networks are the same?

Maths in a minute: The catenary

Chains, arches and Wembley Stadium.

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

  • As COP28, the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, kicks off we look at how maths can help understand the climate crisis.

  • How do you create dramatic film out of mathematics? We find out with writer and director Timothy Lanzone.

  • Mathematics plays a central role in understanding how infectious diseases spread. This collection of articles looks at some basic concepts in epidemiology to help you understand this fascinating and important field, and set you up for further study.

  • Find out why the formula we use to work out conditional probabilities is true!

  • We talk about a play that explores the fascinating mathematical collaboration between the mathematicians GH Hardy and Srinivasa Ramanujan.