ALAIN ZALMANSKI
30 articles published in Tangente
Math for everyoneN°95Aug 21, 2025The abacus mindset
The enduring use of the abacus has made Asia the continent where mental arithmetic is most highly developed. Competitions are held there, and the leading experts regularly set new records.
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History and CultureN°221Dec 18, 2024Jacques Roubaud has passed away
Following Oulipo's time-honored formula, Jacques Roubaud is now excused from its meetings on account of his death, which occurred this past December 5, his 92nd birthday.
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Math for everyoneN°219Aug 22, 2024The origins of pifometry
The ancients used units based on human abilities or physical characteristics: the length of a thumb or foot, the handspan, the cubit, the fathom...
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Games and ChallengesN°89Feb 20, 2024Fraction puzzles from days gone by
Thirds, quarters and other fractions have long provided the basis for puzzles in a wide range of settings. Here are three from centuries past.
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Math for everyoneN°84Nov 18, 2022Curves made of straight lines
String pictures—decorative designs drawn or made with thread or cord—enjoyed their heyday around 1975. Today they are back in fashion under the name string art.
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Math for everyoneN°206Jun 21, 2022The origins of orientation
Do you know where the words "orientation" and "orient" come from?
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History and CultureN°205Apr 20, 2022Graphs in literature
The Oulipians have also explored the use of graphs and trees in literature.
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History and CultureN°204Feb 17, 2022The workshop of potential tragicomedy
The Workshop of Potential Tragicomedy (Outrapo) is to theater what Oulipo is to literature.
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History and CultureN°80Nov 17, 2021Even in literature!
Formal structures, particularly groups, are a major focus of constrained literature that emerged from the Ouvroir de littérature potentielle (Oulipo), the literary movement founded by Raymond Queneau and François Le Lionnais in 1960.
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History and CultureN°200Jun 16, 2021A few forerunners
On a more modest scale, several French-language magazines preceded Tangente. Some of those featured on this page even ceased publication to help launch Tangente.
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Math for everyoneN°78May 20, 2021The compass: a universal instrument
Compasses are made of wood or metal, in all sizes, with or without a sector.
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Math for everyoneN°196Oct 14, 2020Square snippets
Did you know that literary magic squares exist? Have you heard of nested magic squares? But where exactly does the adjective "magic" in "magic square" come from?
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