How a little insect can cause chaos.

Producing electricity securely, safely, reliably and cheaply, has many challenges. Chris Budd explains that the answer to many of these issues is maths.

Producing electricity securely, safely, reliably and cheaply, has many challenges. Chris Budd explains that the answer to many of these issues is maths.

How to derive the famous quadratic formula from pictures, just like the Babylonians did.

In the fourth and final part of our series celebrating 300 years since Leonhard Euler's birth, we let Euler speak for himself. Chris Sangwin takes us through excerpts of Euler's algebra text book and finds that modern teaching could have something to learn from Euler's methods.

How to keep up the suspense

In issue 29 of Plus, we heard how a simple mathematical equation became the subject of a debate in the UK parliament. Chris Budd and Chris Sangwin continue the story of the mighty quadratic equation.

It isn't often that a mathematical equation makes the national press, far less popular radio, or most astonishingly of all, is the subject of a debate in the UK parliament. However, as Chris Budd and Chris Sangwin tell us, in 2003 the good old quadratic equation, which we all learned about in school, reached these dizzy pinnacles of fame.