Mathematics

Scientific American columnist Martin Gardner started a long mathematical conversation that continues today

Can this house of cards be built?

An elegant matchmaking algorithm called Gale-Shapley can find the best possible pairings for everybody

Mathematicians have made lots of recent progress on a question called the Mordell conjecture, which was posed a century ago

A surprisingly simple concept shook the foundations of mathematics

Some researchers dream of solving all mysteries with a common method—but a mathematical paradox may keep such solutions out of reach

Math’s “best-choice problem” could help humans become better decision-makers at everything from choosing the best job candidate to finding a romantic partner

Can you find the number that doesn't belong?

Mathematician Gauss left behind a trophy case of mathematical achievements to highlight on his tombstone, but above all he wanted a regular heptadecagon etched on it

Training in symbolic logic is critical in many careers, for responsible citizenship and better lives. It is also an underexploited antidote to today’s bizarre conspiracy thinking

Two physicists have come across infinitely many novel equations for pi while trying to develop a unifying theory of the fundamental forces

Mathematicians reveal that tiling your multidimensional bathroom will lead to never-ending disorder