Mathematicians used “magic functions” to prove that two highly symmetric lattices solve a myriad of problems in eight- and 24-dimensional space. The points could be an infinite collection of electrons ...

Most people probably don’t think of mathematics when they hear “busy beavers.” But these eager little animals symbolize one of the most amazing concepts of the knotty field: not everything can be ...

Introducing new math concepts via already-worked examples can give students a significant boost in learning. But choosing the right problems makes a big difference. An analysis earlier this year of ...

There are few things more pleasing to your average mathematician than when a result surprises you. Take e, for example – a ...

About 10 years ago, Alan Garfinkel, a professor in the life sciences department at the University of California, Los Angeles, got a call. It was from his dean, who said that the department had ...

When it comes to teaching math, a debate has persisted for decades: How, and to what degree, should algorithms be a focus of learning math? The step-by-step procedures are among the most debated ...