sequence

Mathematical mysteries: Hailstone sequences

Here's an easy game that leads you straight to an unsolved question in maths.

The Fibonacci sequence – 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, ... – is one of the most famous pieces of mathematics. We see how these numbers appear in multiplying rabbits and bees, in the turns of sea shells and sunflower seeds, and how it all stemmed from a simple example in one of the most important books in Western mathematics.

No limits for Usain

Usain Bolt, the "fastest man on the planet", aims to get his 100 metre world record of 9.58 seconds down to 9.40 seconds. What has mathematics got to say about this quest?

Mysterious number 6174

6174 is a very mysterious number. Yutaka Nishiyama explains why, and how beautiful mathematical oddities can inspire us to discover new mathematics.

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.

The ICM 2018

The International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) took place in Rio de Janeiro at the beginning of August. Here is all our coverage at a glance.
Maths and politics

Mathematicians like to think that their field transcends politics, but as this brief history of the International Congress of Mathematicians shows, international mathematics has always been coloured by world events.
Maths in a minute: Transcendental numbers (and politics)

A quick introduction to transcendental numbers, a famous problem which relates to them, and how the person who solved it became a victim of political tensions.
What can we see?

Physics is all about observation. But how much can we actually see with the naked eye?
Who's watching: Can maths exist if you can't see it?

We explore non-constructive proofs and what happens if you try and avoid them.

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