The genius of John Conway
John Horton Conway, a brilliant mathematician, passed away at the age of 82 on April 11, in New Brunswick (New Jersey, United States). Both a creator with boundless imagination in many fields – especially games – and an exceptional popularizer, he embodied the ideal mathematician that Tangente could dream of. Through his talent, John Conway advanced mathematics in various fields: finite groups, number theory, geometry and geometric topology, theoretical physics, combinatorics and game theory. But it is more particularly the "Game of Life" that made him famous, allowing a wide audience to discover mathematics in a new light, both playful and profound. This game was used, among other things, for modeling the spread of an epidemic. Tragic coincidence, it was complications related to the coronavirus that claimed the life of its creator.
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Conway and group theory | Tangente
Conway developed a passion for groups—and sporadic groups in particular—at an early age.
Conway, the game-playing mathematician | Tangente
John Conway advanced finite group theory, number theory, topology, theoretical physics, combinatorial game theory and geometry. His originality, creativity and extraordinary personality made him popular with mathematical game enthusiasts everywhere, especially after he created the Game of Life in the 1970s.
Wonders of Conway's Game of Life | Tangente
One of John Conway's best-known creations is the Game of Life, which he devised in 1970. It is a particular kind of cellular automaton, made up of virtual beings that develop in the cells of a regular grid, living, dying and being born according to predetermined rules.
An irresistible geometer
Finding fruitful connections between two mathematical objects that, at first sight, have no reason to meet: this was the essence of Conway's approach. How did he uncover such connections? By playing around, as these examples from geometry show!
Mind-boggling surreal numbers!
By combining Dedekind cuts with von Neumann's construction of the natural numbers, John Conway constructed the largest possible collection of numbers: the class of surreal numbers, which he endowed with the structure of a field.
Conway and quantum free will | Tangente
John Conway joined forces with Simon Kochen to prove the free will theorem. This result calls for a reassessment of quantum mechanics, without necessarily tying it to probability. It casts new light on a paradox highlighted by Einstein.
Reference books on Conway | Tangente
Guided by his passions and discoveries, John Conway wrote many fascinating books, regrettably few of which have been translated.
Conway's sequences and conjectures | Tangente
Conway loved playing with number sequences. His explorations led him to formulate conjectures that are elementary to state but formidable to tackle.
Tilings: Conway's criterion | Tangente
You have probably heard of tilings, but do you know this simple criterion for determining whether a polygon can tile the plane?
Games as a source of inspiration
Games were an inexhaustible source of inspiration for Conway—both studying the classics and creating new puzzles.