conic sections

Flying a plane on a secret mission? Some basic geometry can help you avoid being captured by an adversary.

A beautiful argument to show that all parabolae are similar.

Play with our applets to explore the conic sections and their different definitions.

It might not be as familiar as the circle or parabola, but it's definitely worth getting to know the hyperbola!

On a rainy night last month, in an ancient hall down a hidden alleyway in the centre of London, Bernard Silverman, Chief Scientific Advisor to the Home Office, revealed a surprising secret... ancient mathematics is at the heart of a very modern game of hide and seek.

Runner up in the schools category. Dusty books, chalky blackboards and checked shirts are all things usually associated with maths. But according to Jonathan Tims, pubs, hot chocolate and cats can be far more inspirational. Join him on a trip through shadow land.