Math for everyone
Mathematical content accessible to everyone
Disputes and paradoxes | Tangente
Even the greatest mathematicians have fallen into the traps laid by logic and its paradoxes.
The paradoxes that shook mathematics
What a devilish theory Georg Cantor created with set theory! So thought some mathematicians at the turn of the 20th century, when a series of paradoxes seemed to threaten the foundations of mathematics. This prompted a reassessment of the role of logic.
Discontinuities and series of functions
The introduction of series of functions, followed by theorems establishing when continuity or differentiability is preserved in the limit, made it possible to construct objects with unusual, counterintuitive properties. Some famous mathematicians had tremendous fun with them!
Discontinuities of all kinds
They have been called "pathological"; Henri Poincaré spoke of "monsters," accusing them of being "strange functions that strive to resemble as little as possible the respectable functions that serve some purpose." Yet some discontinuous functions have left their mark on history.
The emergence of discontinuous functions
Until the early 19th century, everything seemed continuous. Trigonometric series brought discontinuous functions onto the scene. They prompted Riemann to generalize the notion of the integral, led Weierstrass to clarify the notion of continuity, and spurred Darboux to study derivatives.
Who (really) holds power in Parliament?
In May 2019, following the European Parliament elections, some groups gained seats, but not enough to influence the debates. Others lost seats, yet still seem indispensable. A group’s real power cannot be reduced to its number of seats!
University–industry math partnerships | Tangente
Corporate-sponsored research chairs are one example of the many forms that partnerships between universities and industry can take.
Mathematical innovation days | Tangente
Businesses and academic research laboratories have every reason to collaborate—but for that to happen, they must first be brought together!
Taking to the skies with mathematics
An aircraft is an extraordinarily complex system. Have you ever considered how much mathematics goes into making your flight possible—and enjoyable? Come aboard! Let's take a quick look at the specific demands of aeronautics.
Randomness in video games
ChickenPods is a free-to-play video game (F2P to those in the know) developed in 2019 at the startup Mathilde. Randomness plays an important role in generating environments and determining how the chickens move. That is where mathematics comes in...
Blockchain in all its mathematical forms | Tangente
Blockchain technology is among the technologies to watch in the years ahead, as it could revolutionize several sectors of the economy. It draws on recent mathematical developments through increasingly sophisticated processes.
Matrices and graphs in accounting
Accountants are not known for using sophisticated mathematical tools. Yet modern techniques enable them to handle many situations arising in what is known as "complex accounting".
The new mathematical tools used by insurance companies
Mathematical tools are constantly evolving in the insurance industry. Until recently, they were used mainly in technical departments, where actuaries play a central role. Today, they are driving the development of new professions.
Anticipating change
A company operates in an uncertain environment. A range of mathematical tools can help us better understand the uncertainties that must be taken into account when anticipating the future. After all, to govern is to foresee!
Year of Mathematics guide | Tangente
The Institut national des sciences mathématiques et de leurs interactions (INSMI) and the ministère de l'Éducation nationale joined forces to propose that 2020 be designated the Year of Mathematics.
A maths special issue for everyone | Tangente
When a general-interest weekly such as Le Point publishes a special issue devoted entirely to mathematics, the Tangente editorial team can only be pleased—particularly because it addresses issues and values close to our hearts, as the titles of its three sections show: "Maths for everyone", "Maths are everywhere" and "Practical maths".
Michel Serres: scientist and philosopher | Tangente
Did Michel Serres, who moved from mathematics to philosophy, truly leave the "queen of the sciences" behind? Throughout his career, at any rate, he never missed an opportunity to refer to the subject. Explore the mathematical landscape of this unconventional philosopher.
Is the Palais de la découverte in danger? | Tangente
When it opened in 1937, the Palais de la découverte aimed to "bring science out of the labs" and show "science in the making," with the aim of turning visitors into budding researchers.
Jeanne Calment: the mathematics of longevity | Tangente
Jeanne Calment of France, who died in 1997 at the exceptional age of 122, long held the title of the world's oldest person. In January, Nicolaï Zak, a Russian mathematician with an interest in genealogy, and gerontologist Valeri Novosselov claimed that Jeanne had in fact died back in 1934 and been "replaced" by her daughter Yvonne… because of an inheritance-tax matter.
Court and maths: an unprecedented ruling | Tangente
Readers of Tangente 189 (page 5) will no doubt remember Valentin Desgranges, the 19-year-old from Toulouse who submitted a sensible mathematical answer to an online competition run by a major retail chain (Auchan).