click here for the plus home page
© 1997-2009, Millennium Mathematics Project, University of Cambridge.
Permission is granted to print and copy this page on paper for non-commercial use. For other uses, including electronic redistribution, please contact us.
Do you know what's good for you?
icon

Understand the maths behind health and medicine

Careers with maths
icon

Gavin Harper is a mathematician working right at the heart of genetics

A favourite from the archive...
Subscribe to our RSS feed:
AddThis Feed Button subscribe to our RSS feed
 
March 2010
Tags

variational calculus

Feature icon

Phil Wilson continues our series on the life and work of Leonhard Euler, who would have turned 300 this year. This article looks at the calculus of variations and a mysterious law of nature that has caused some scientists to reach out for god.

Tags: calculus : Euler : Euler year : anthropic principle : variational calculus : least action principle : mathematics and religion