Jacques Bair
56 articles published in Tangente
Math for everyoneN°192Jan 22, 2020Distributions:
The idea of discontinuity is epitomized by two “functions” named after the physicists Heaviside and Dirac. An economic problem offers an opportunity to introduce the fundamentals of the underlying mathematical theory intuitively.
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Math for everyoneN°72Oct 09, 2019Linear programming
Linear programming deals with problems that seem elementary in formulation: optimizing linear functions over a set defined by linear inequalities. Yet this theory has many highly practical applications.
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Everyday MathN°70Apr 11, 2019The conquering virus
Studying how viruses act also involves… geometry. In particular, determining the area conquered by a virus helps assess how dangerous it is. So let us grab a microscope! Off to the laboratory for some hands-on work…
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History and CultureN°183Jul 17, 2018The techniques of the prodigious Terence Tao
Terence Tao is one of the greatest mathematicians of our time. He solves formidable mathematical problems himself. Nor does he hesitate to share his working methods on his widely read blog and offer advice that anyone can put to use.
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History and CultureN°183Jul 17, 2018Tim Gowers's tricks
Sir William Timothy Gowers was born in England on 20 November 1963. A professor of mathematics at the University of Cambridge (Great Britain), he is one of today's leading mathematicians and has received several prestigious awards, including the Fields Medal in 1998.
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Math for everyoneN°183Jul 17, 2018Animals do math too!
To solve mathematical problems, we can sometimes draw inspiration from the way certain animals solve theirs. You read that right! Chimpanzees and mice, for example, display remarkable ingenuity in reaching their favorite treat…
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Math for everyoneN°183Jul 17, 2018From local to global... without a care
When faced with an optimization problem, we seek an extremum of a function.
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Math for everyoneN°183Jul 17, 2018Differentiation in nonstandard analysis
In nonstandard analysis, the derivative is introduced without invoking the concept of a limit. The price is that we must use infinitesimals: nonzero numbers whose absolute value is less than every strictly positive real number!
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History and CultureN°183Jul 17, 2018The derivative in four stages
Mathematical concepts emerge gradually: they are often developed in several stages. The derivative is no exception. American historian Judith Victor Grabiner identifies four stages in its development.
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History and CultureN°183Jul 17, 2018René-François de Sluse's ingenious algorithm
Sluse, a 17th-century Belgian mathematician, devised an algorithm for systematically calculating the slope of the tangent to an implicitly defined algebraic curve. His work was a crucial step towards the discoveries of Newton and Leibniz.
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Math for everyoneN°175Mar 29, 2017Modelling preferences
We are all constantly called upon to make choices based on our preferences. Modelling them is a crucial step in decision support and is therefore of interest to the social sciences, particularly sociology.
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Math for everyoneN°175Mar 26, 2017Bookmakers don't like probabilities
Since bookmakers try to assess the outcomes of horse races, it is easy to imagine that they rely on probability. Rather surprisingly, they do not! This paradox can be explained by a mathematical property of probabilities.
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