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Dive into the fascinating world of mathematics with our captivating articles, written by passionate experts. Whether you are a curious amateur or a seasoned mathematician, our articles cover a wide range of topics, from fundamental concepts to the latest discoveries, including practical applications and philosophical reflections.
The origins of pifometry | Tangente
The ancients used units based on human abilities or physical characteristics: the length of a thumb or foot, the handspan, the cubit, the fathom...
A cork on the river | Tangente
Set a cork adrift on the surface of a river. When its path is too difficult to calculate, approximation methods are the only option. Sometimes, however, the way the water flows makes the reliability of such methods problematic.
Bézier curves in modeling | Tangente
Bézier curves are particularly common in computer-aided design and can be generated easily from a small number of points that completely determine them.
Approximating functions: not so simple...
When we want to get closer to an object, we try to reduce the distance between us and it. The same applies when "approximating" a function. But matters become more complicated because there are several notions of distance.
Approximating the paths of celestial bodies | Tangente
The word planet comes from a Greek word meaning "wandering star." This etymology suggests that the motion of the planets—which for the Greeks included the Moon and the Sun—is difficult to define and seems to defy all logic.
Approximation theory
When we do not know how to determine models or shapes directly, we approximate them using functions or curves that are easier to handle while preserving their main properties. This is the subject of approximation theory.
Geometry of Andean textiles | Tangente
In the Andes, weavers from periods sometimes lost in the distant past produced an immense variety of patterns that nevertheless bear a clear family resemblance. Mathematics can help us understand part of the visual language these textiles share.
Combinatorics on words and music | Tangente
Combinatorics on words is an area of mathematics that has proved particularly fruitful for studying certain musical phenomena, especially the rhythmic features of African and Malagasy music—so much so that a computer can even recreate them!
Marcia Ascher, pioneer | Tangente
Behind a wealth of research in ethnomathematics, mathematician Maria Ascher is regarded as one of the founders of this new discipline
Geometry in Celtic art | Tangente
Celtic art is constructed according to mathematical and geometric principles. Ethnomathematics helps us identify and analyze the geometry that underpins this symbolic art.
The turtle algorithm in Vanuatu | Tangente
Mathematical modelling offers one way to make sense of Vanuatu's sand drawings. In particular, it will lead us to a surprising "turtle theorem".
History of ethnomathematics | Tangente
Today, ethnomathematics is the study of cultural variations in mathematical practices and knowledge, particularly those developed outside scholarly and institutional settings. It offers fresh and original perspectives on mathematics and its teaching.
2024 Tangente high school students' prize | Tangente
The ninth Tangente High School Students' Prize ran throughout the 2023–2024 school year. It is a flagship initiative promoting mathematics among young people—an aim close to your magazine's heart.
Laurent Schwartz, politically engaged mathematician | Tangente
The publication of the graphic novel Laurent Schwartz, les engagements d'un médaillé Fields offers an opportunity to revisit the life and struggles of this surprising mathematician.
2024 SMF prizes | Tangente
Every two years, the Société mathématique de France (SMF) awards the d'Alembert and Jacqueline-Ferrand Prizes.
The egg equation | Tangente
Three researchers, Valery Narushin, Michael Romanov and Darren Griffin, recently published a paper proposing a general formula for drawing the outline of any real egg.
Fermat Museum: Heritage and mathematics | Tangente
In July 2024, the Fermat Museum opened in Pierre de Fermat's birthplace in Beaumont-de-Lomagne, Tarn-et-Garonne.
The new Fourier has arrived! | Tangente
The mathematician Joseph Fourier is buried in Père-Lachaise Cemetery (Division 18, near the Casimir-Perrier roundabout) in Paris. His tomb, decorated with Egyptian motifs, was restored in 2023 by the City of Paris at the request of the Society of Friends of Joseph Fourier.
Beyond Gauss in finance | Tangente
Gaussian curves are unsuitable for modelling risky financial assets such as stocks. To overcome this problem, Benoît Mandelbrot introduced the concept of a multifractal measure and generalized Brownian motion.
Fractal dimension
The construction of fractal objects called for new definitions of distance.