The different ways to solve problems
At the time of smart tanning, take advantage of this issue to clean up your neurons by solving mathematical puzzles, some of which are out of the ordinary! How? Don't panic! Our feature will get your brain back in the saddle by reminding you, with examples, of the main proof techniques. The essential induction and the inexhaustible pigeonhole principle are obviously on the menu. From Alcuin of York in the past to Terence Tao today, great mathematicians have always been fond of beautiful problems, while popularizers, like Martin Gardner, excelled in the art of leading you to an elegant solution.
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Elementary yet powerful: the pigeonhole principle
If your chest of drawers has two drawers and you put three items of clothing in them, at least two items—possibly all three—must end up in the same drawer. This seemingly trivial observation is actually the basis of a powerful reasoning tool!
Animals do math too! Polya and heuristics | Tangente
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…
Tim Gowers: Polymath, combinatorics, open science | Tangente
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.
Reasoning means solving
Reasoning means organizing your thoughts. Yes, but how? Are there methods for keeping our thoughts from descending into anarchy and confusion? Mathematics is, by its very nature, the discipline that has enabled us to answer these questions over the centuries. And it works!
The 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.