Mathematics

Math is in everything — from the code in your smartphone to the calculations that explain the very fabric of the universe. At Live Science, we want to show you how amazing numbers can be, whether it’s recognizing the most beautiful equation or marveling in the golden ratio. So if you're after seriously mind-boggling math facts, want to know why the universe would not make sense without mathematics or are curious how supercomputers enabled mathematicians to finally identify a "seemingly impossible" number, our expert writers and editors are on point with the latest news, features and articles about mathematics.
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Latest about Mathematics

How do we know pi is an irrational number?
By Victoria Atkinson published
Are there mathematical ways to prove that pi is an irrational number that has no end?

Pi Day quiz: How much do you know about this irrational number?
By Victoria Atkinson published
Test yourself on math's most famous constant with this pi quiz.

14-year-old known as 'the human calculator' breaks 6 math world records in 1 day
By Joanna Thompson published
Indian teenager Aaryan Shulka performs calculations in his head quicker than most people can use a calculator. At a recent event hosted by Guinness World Records, 14-year-old Shulka shattered six mental math records in one day.

Could monkeys really type the complete works of Shakespeare?
By Marilyn Perkins published
The infinite monkey theorem is a fun thought experiment, but does it actually apply to our finite world?

Infamous 'sofa problem' that boggled mathematicians for decades may finally have a solution
By Stephanie Pappas published
A math problem delineating the largest-size sofa that can fit around a corner has finally been solved, though it may not help you move.

What is the Fibonacci sequence?
By Tia Ghose last updated
Almost everything you know about the famous Fibonacci sequence is wrong.

High school students who came up with 'impossible' proof of Pythagorean theorem discover 9 more solutions to the problem
By Sascha Pare published
In a new peer-reviewed study, Ne'Kiya Jackson and Calcea Johnson outlined 10 ways to solve the Pythagorean theorem using trigonometry, including a proof they discovered in high school.

What is the largest known prime number?
By Charles Q. Choi last updated
There are infinitely many prime numbers, but the biggest one we know of goes by the name M82589933 and contains more than 24 million digits.
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