MICHEL CRITON
38 articles published in Tangente
Math for everyoneN°94May 13, 2025A cornucopia
Paul Erdős and Leonidas Alaoglu studied highly abundant and superabundant numbers, rediscovering along the way notions already studied, but not published, by the celebrated Indian mathematician Ramanujan.
Read →
History and CultureN°94May 05, 2025On Erdős
Two books in particular, both published in 1998, offer a glimpse into Erdős's life through anecdotes and accounts by other mathematicians.
Read →
History and CultureN°94May 05, 2025Erdős's language
One of Erdős's quirks was his highly distinctive vocabulary, which offers a humorous glimpse of how he viewed those around him.
Read →
History and CultureN°222Feb 10, 2025A centenarian still going strong
After a busy career in public works engineering, during which he held various positions in Alsace, René Descombes (born in 1924!) has pursued his interest in magic squares since retiring.
Read →
History and CultureN°222Feb 10, 2025The joy of searching
Christian Boyer, Vincent Thill, Jean Moreau de Saint-Martin and Philippe Fondanaiche—all passionate amateur mathematicians—agreed to answer our questions about how their interest in mathematics began and the activities they have developed in their favorite areas.
Read →
Math for everyoneN°92Dec 04, 2024Jolygons
This is not a polygon
Read →
Math for everyoneN°92Dec 04, 2024Maulnes Castle,
Few people know that less than 200 km from Paris stands a Renaissance castle built to a pentagonal design. Only a handful of such buildings can be found anywhere in the world...
Read →
Math for everyoneN°92Dec 03, 2024Polygon taxonomy
Just as a taxonomist inventories and classifies living species, whether animal or plant, let us classify the simplest polygons by comparing their angle measures and side lengths.
Read →
Math for everyoneN°89Feb 19, 2024Fractions of fractions, full speed ahead
A very simple way of constructing a sequence of fractions can lead to surprisingly deep mathematical tools. Here is an example that leads to the famous Prouhet–Thue–Morse sequence and its many applications.
Read →
History and CultureN°215Dec 21, 2023An inventory of arithmetic puzzles
Figurate numbers, which provide a visual representation of integers, form a wonderful bridge between geometry and arithmetic. Some properties in either field can be reformulated in the other, and vice versa! New questions naturally arise…
Read →
Math for everyoneN°214Oct 16, 2023Rhombus Notes
Did you know?
Read →
Games and ChallengesN°212Jun 24, 2023International Mathematical Games Championship: the 2023 French final
After two years without an international final because of the pandemic, the 36th Championship held its final outside France for the first time, in Lausanne, Switzerland, while the final round of the 37th Championship will take place on August 25 and 26, 2023, at Wroclaw University of Science and Technology in Poland
Read →