Probability and statistics
Explore mathematics articles on the theme of probability and statistics.
Measuring infinity: how Borel and Lebesgue went beyond Newton
Explore Lebesgue measure, Borel's normal numbers and the foundations of probability theory through the history of mathematics.
Normal numbers: The Library of Babel hides your password
Explore the normal numbers defined by Borel in 1909, revealed through the literary analogy of Borges's Library of Babel. A meeting point of number theory, probability, and analysis.
How a specialist in probability becomes a pillar of the Republic of Professors
A portrait of Émile Borel, the illustrious mathematician of the Belle Époque, who combined a brilliant scientific career with political engagement and a fight for justice.
Marie Curie, Borel, Perrin: a scholarly circle on a Breton peninsula
The Arcouest peninsula, near Paimpol, was a regular holiday retreat for many academics, including Émile Borel and Marie Curie.
Émile Borel: probability at the cradle of quantum theory
Émile Borel's notebook on Paul Langevin's course at the Collège de France: a unique testimony to the scientific ferment surrounding quanta.
Émile Borel: Why fund a thousand researchers to find one?
A portrait of Émile Borel's commitment to funding scientific research, European cooperation, and the evolution of his political thought from radicalism to liberalism.
Can you govern a country the way you solve an equation?
A portrait of Émile Borel, an École normale supérieure alumnus and scholar who combined a scientific career with political activism, from Dreyfusism to the Resistance, through radicalism and international intellectual cooperation.
Hilbert's 6th problem solved: the Newton-Boltzmann-Navier-Stokes link finally proven
A team of mathematicians has finally solved Hilbert's sixth problem, linking the equations of Newton, Boltzmann, and Navier-Stokes after 125 years of research.
Two billion smartphones turned into a seismograph network
Explanation of the Android earthquake alert system that turns the accelerometers of two billion phones into an early earthquake detection network.
2026 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.
Pascal's Wager: probability and faith in mathematical analysis
An explanation of Blaise Pascal's famous argument about the wager of faith, applying probability theory to the question of God's existence.
Talystro: 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.
Alkindi 2026: cryptanalysis final for middle schoolers at the École des Mines
Twenty teams of middle and high school students go head-to-head on 13 May at the École des Mines de Paris to win the title of France's best junior cryptanalyst.
Ace: the math-powered robot beating ping-pong champs
Discover how Ace, a robot that combines reinforcement learning with event-based vision, can beat ping-pong champions. We break down the mathematics behind this feat, published in Nature.
Gabriel Cramer: the journey of an 18th-century Genevan mathematician
Explore Gabriel Cramer's journey, from his education in Geneva to his European Grand Tour among the leading mathematicians of his day.
Training Insee staff: ENSAE, ENSAI and Cefil
Insee trains its staff at three schools with admission by competitive examination: ENSAE, ENSAI and Cefil. Their multidisciplinary programs in statistics, economics and computer science prepare students for data careers.
Insee surveys: methods and the challenges of official statistics
Discover how Insee rigorously conducts its statistical surveys, from sampling to estimating unemployment.
Econometrics: measuring to understand | Insee
Econometrics uses mathematics and statistics to uncover causal relationships in economic phenomena and inform public policy.
How are statistical data collected in France?
Official statistics are governed by strict rules for surveys. Discover the institutions involved, multimode data collection and the biases inherent in each method.
History of official statistics: from antiquity to Insee
A look back at the evolution of counting and enumeration methods, from ancient Rome to the creation of Insee in 1946.