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: Expectation

Why the expected outcome of rolling a die is 3.5.

Maths in a minute: Boolean algebra

Meet the algebra at the heart of your computer!

Maths in a minute: Simplifying circuits

Claude Shannon's ingenious insight linking physical circuits with Boolean algebra paved the way for modern computing.

Maths in a minute: The central limit theorem

Opinion polls, election forecasts, testing new medical drugs — none of these would be possible without the central limit theorem.

Maths in a minute: n-body problems

Why too many bodies present a problem.

Maths in a minute: Bayes' theorem

It would be foolish to ignore evidence. Luckily Bayes' theorem shows us how to take it in into account.

Physics in a minute: What's the problem with quantum gravity?

At the heart of modern physics lurks a terrible puzzle: the two main theories that describe the world we live in just won't fit together.

Maths in a minute: The power of powers

The powers of x can work magic.

Maths in a minute: Continued fractions

Continued fractions reveal the good, the bad and the beautiful side of numbers.

Maths in a minute: Easy 11

Eleven makes multiplication easy.

Maths in a minute: Trisecting the angle

A quick look at an ancient problem.

Maths in a minute: Tiling troubles

Why there are only three regular polygons you can tile a wall with.

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