Fractions: Where It All Goes Wrong
Why do Americans have such trouble with fractions—and what can be done?
Math923 articles archived since 1845
Millions, Billions, Trillions: How to Make Sense of Numbers in the News
Anyone who can understand tens, hundreds and thousands can develop habits and skills to accurately navigate millions, billions and trillions. Stay with me, especially if you’re math-averse
The Unforgiving Math That Stops Epidemics
Not getting a flu shot could endanger more than just one’s own health, herd immunity calculations show
The Tower of Hanoi
A Towering Mathematical Activity from Science Buddies
How Animals Got Their Spots and Stripes – According to Math
From the peacock tail and the eyespots of a butterfly, to the evolving camouflage of the chameleon, nature loves patterns
Food Sleuthing: Find the Missing Ingredient
A detective activity from Science Buddies
How Does Geometry Explain the Phases of the Moon?
What causes the Moon to change phases throughout the month? Why is it sometimes visible only during the day and other times only at night? What’s the relationship between these times and the Moon’s phases? The answer in all cases is geometry.
Mathematicians Measure Infinities, and Find They're Equal
Proof rests on a surprising link between infinity size and the complexity of mathematical theories
Measure Earth's Circumference with a Shadow
A geometry science project from Science Buddies
Why Is It Important to Study Math?
What’s the point of learning math? Why is it so important that kids are exposed to mathematical thinking? And what do parents and teachers need to know about learning real math? Keep on reading to find out.
Mathematical Wave Puzzle Shines Light on the Physics of Electrons
A mathematician and her collaborators figured out how to predict electrons’ behavior by studying the mathematics of waves
Interfering Patterns
A puzzling project from Science Buddies
How Math Puzzles Help You Plan the Perfect Party
The right mix of people who already know one another, of boys and girls--Ramsey numbers may hold the answer
Mathematics World Mourns Maryam Mirzakhani, Only Woman to Win Fields Medal
The brilliant Stanford professor, killed by breast cancer at 40, worked with shapes unconstrained by the real world
What Are Mixed Fractions?
How do they work? And how can you turn them into improper fractions? Keep on reading to find out!
4 More FAQs about Percentages
How do you quickly calculate 25 percent of a number? Or 33 percent of a number? And how can you quickly calculate percentage increases?
Nil Communication: How to Send a Message without Sending Anything at All
Physicists have exploited the laws of quantum mechanics to send information without transmitting a signal. But have they, really?
Keep Rolling Luggage Upright with Physics
A team of physicists has revealed why rolling suitcases start rocking from wheel to wheel—and how to avoid that frustrating phenomenon. Christopher Intagliata reports.
How a Math Formula Could Decide the Fate of Endangered U.S. Species
Feds consider “conservation triage” that would let some animals go extinct to save funds for protecting others
The Maths of Life and Death: Our Secret Weapon in the Fight against Disease
Mathematics is increasingly integral to biology as more detailed experiments in recent years have led to a huge influx in biological data
