The mathematician is mightier than the spy?
Traditional military intelligence was failing to determine the true numbers of tanks produced by Germany’s factories. The Allies needed reliable information on the numbers of new Mark IV and V tanks being produced. Mathematicians showed that all you needed was a serial number.
Read the whole postMaths and the Financial Crisis
Financial mathematics. If the God of Whizz was of an uncharitable turn of mind he might suggest that the world of finance has recently honoured mathematical accuracy more in the breach than in the observance. In this vein, the Financial Times’ Gillian Tett suggests that mathematicians must get out of their ivory towers to restore [...]
Read the whole postStatistics for the media – explained
How to avoid idiotic media polls, handily explained. (Poll statistics for the media, via Pharyngula)
Read the whole postSomeone who Doesn’t Need Maths-Whizz shocker!
The Grime music star Cleopatra Humphrey, who goes by the (far less interesting) stage name Mz Bratt, talked up the benefits of a good maths education in a recent interview. [Barking and Dagenham Recorder] “Education is so important, because you should take nothing in this business for granted. “I’m finding more and more that maths [...]
Read the whole postWaggle-Maths
Bees might be rather good mathematicians. It seems bees could have a finely-tuned ability to calculate averages. The famous ‘waggle dance’ is a shimmy that bees returning to the hive perform for their fellow workers, a communication tool that helps guide others to the best flowers.
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