Combinatorics and games
Explore mathematics articles on the theme of combinatorics and games.
PodcastHong Wang wins 2026 Fields Medal for 3D Kakeya proof
Mathematician Hong Wang becomes the third woman to receive the Fields Medal, for solving the century-old Kakeya needle problem in three dimensions together with Joshua Zahl.
Podcast42 out of 42: this 17-year-old high schooler aces a perfect score at the math Olympiad
Alex Chui, a 17-year-old British high schooler, achieved a perfect score at the 2026 International Mathematical Olympiad, picking up a record seven medals in seven appearances along the way.
Podcast52 playing cards to learn astronomy and geometry
In the 17th century, Joseph Moxon and his son James published educational playing cards for learning astronomy, geometry and the art of carving.
Podcast2026 World Cup: 25,000 simulations pick Spain to win
Using 25,000 simulations and the Monte Carlo method, Opta predicts Spain will be 2026 world champion with a 16.1% chance. But this figure illustrates the paradox of 48-team tournaments: even the top favorite has an 84% chance of not winning.
PodcastCubeHarmonic: the Rubik's Cube that makes algebra audible
Invented by Maria Mannone, the CubeHarmonic uses a Rubik's Cube to create musical harmonies and teach algebra intuitively.
PodcastGeometry as incarnation: Pascal and the primacy of figures
How Blaise Pascal favored figures over numbers, even solving combinatorial problems through the geometry of the arithmetic triangle.
PodcastLeibniz, the Yi Jing and binary: an unlikely encounter
Discover how Leibniz found a forerunner of the binary system that would revolutionize modern computing in the Chinese Book of Changes.
PodcastTalystro: maths strategy game review on Steam
Talystro is a Norwegian roguelite where every enemy has a precise value to reach through equations. A playful, strategic approach to maths.
PodcastEGMO 2026 Bordeaux: 260 girls shake up math
The European Girls' Mathematical Olympiad brought together 260 participants from around the world in Bordeaux for the 15th edition of this competition dedicated to promoting girls in mathematics.
PodcastMichèle Audin: mathematician, writer and Oulipian
Michèle Audin's life brought together several forms of commitment. Professional mathematician, writer, social and political activist: every strand was intertwined with and enriched the others.
Workshop of potential tragicomedy | Tangente
The Workshop of Potential Tragicomedy (Outrapo) is to theater what Oulipo is to literature.
Lovász and Widgerson, winners of the 2021 Abel Prize | Tangente
This year, the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters has put theoretical computer science and graph theory in the spotlight.
Magic every which way | Tangente
Magic squares have inspired wonder since antiquity. Mathematicians, artists and enthusiasts of every stripe have racked their brains to find forms of magic within a square beyond the "ordinary" classical arithmetic variety.
Little square puzzles | Tangente
Square-grid number puzzles appeal to enthusiasts of recreational mathematics. This selection comes from the "Affaire de logique" column in the newspaper Le Monde.
Square snippets | Tangente
Did you know that literary magic squares exist? Have you heard of nested magic squares? But where exactly does the adjective "magic" in "magic square" come from?
Multiplications—for a change! | Tangente
The world of magic squares is still very much alive and remains an active field of research. Access to computing power has rekindled enthusiasts’ interest in these arithmetical objects. What happens if we try to define a multiplicative form of magic?
Build your first magic square | Tangente
can numbers be arranged so perfectly that they produce equal sums in every direction? The challenge is certainly difficult, but construction methods do exist! The magic of arithmetic...
Network flows, transport and cuts | Tangente
Many transport problems can be modelled using "flows". One example is the transmission of electricity discussed in this article. Other classic applications involve transporting fluids (gas, water, oil, etc.) as well as people or goods (by truck, train, ship, etc.).
Combinatorial paths: shortest paths | Tangente
When we choose our route as we go, we must decide between several paths, just as in a maze. The same question arises at every new junction, creating a combinatorial explosion in the number of possible routes. How can we circumvent this explosion?
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.