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: 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.
Maths in a minute: Fourier series
matches

How the heat equation inspired the maths that powers the entertainment industry.
Maths in a minute: Maths and navigation

How the need to locate your location at sea led to some interesting mathematics.
Maths in a minute: The square root of 2 is irrational
Here's one of the most elegant proofs in all of maths. Rejoice in its simplicity!