Mathematics
Math is in everything — from the code in your smartphone to the calculations that explain the very fabric of the universe. At Live Science, we want to show you how amazing numbers can be, whether it’s recognizing the most beautiful equation or marveling in the golden ratio.
So if you're after seriously mind-boggling math facts, want to know why the universe would not make sense without mathematics or are curious how supercomputers enabled mathematicians to finally identify a "seemingly impossible" number, our expert writers and editors are on point with the latest news, features and articles about mathematics.
Latest about Mathematics
'The beauty of symbolic equations is that it's much easier to … see a problem at a glance': How we moved from words and pictures to thinking symbolically
By Robyn Arianrhod published
"Even the +, −, =, and × signs we take for granted only came into widespread use in the 17th century. Which means that the earlier algebraists we know of … all had expressed their equations mostly in words or pictorial word images"
Avi Wigderson wins $1 million Turing Award for using randomness to change computer science
By Ben Turner published
The 2023 Turing Award has been given to Avi Wigderson . The mathematician found that adding randomness into algorithms made them better at solving nondeterministic problems.
Pi calculated to 105 trillion digits, smashing world record
By Harry Baker published
A U.S. computer storage company has calculated the irrational number pi to 105 trillion digits, breaking the previous world record. The calculations took 75 days to complete and used up 1 million gigabytes of data.
Can you solve NASA's Pi Day 2024 riddle?
By Meredith Garofalo published
Hungry for Pi? Check out NASA's Pi Day challenge and put your wits to the test solving problems just like NASA scientists and engineers.
12 surprising facts about pi to chew on this Pi Day
By Tia Ghose published
On Pi Day (March 14) we celebrate perhaps the most iconic irrational number on Earth. From its ancient origins to the unanswered questions, here are some of the most surprising facts about pi.
Why NASA uses only 16 of the 105 trillion digits of pi we know
By Harry Baker published
On Pi Day (March 14), NASA reminded us why we need only a small slice of the irrational number's infinite decimal places to explain most of the known universe.
World's oldest known decimal point discovered in merchant's notes from 1440s Italy
By Stephanie Pappas published
Decimal points are at least 150 years older than historians thought, according to newly unearthed notes from Venetian merchant Giovanni Bianchini, who practiced astrology in the 1440s.
What is the largest known prime number?
By Charles Q. Choi published
There are infinitely many prime numbers, but the biggest one we know of goes by the name M82589933 and contains more than 24 million digits.
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