Mathematics

New Statistical Analysis Methods Might Clear Global Warming Confusion

The primary source of doubt about studies of global warming, economics and medical issues is how well the scientists compiling the data know their statistics. The European Science Foundation’s three-year SACD network developed new methods for extracting k ...

Article - News Staff - Apr 25 2007 - 2:39pm

The Math Of Geopolitics: Will We Invade Country X?

I originally wrote this equation for an interview on the PRI radio program Fair Game, but we got to chatting and ran out of time, so I thought I'd blog it as well. Let me first say that I think it would be a lot of fun to invade Trinidad. While I mean ...

Article - Garth Sundem - Apr 11 2007 - 6:16pm

A Quick Note On Methodolgy And Legitimacy

In theory, if you could define all the factors that go into making a decision and could define exactly how important is each of these factors, and could define how these factors interact, you could make an equation that precisely solves any decision. Of c ...

Article - Garth Sundem - Apr 27 2007 - 11:34pm

Resignation Predictor: Gonzales, Wolfy, Imus, Rosie, Et Al

Lately they've been dropping like flies—Imus, Rosie, Rumsie. Who's next? Gonzales? Wolfowitz? And then there's Alec Baldwin—he doesn't, technically, have anything to resign from, but what are the chances his career can recover from the ...

Article - Garth Sundem - Aug 27 2007 - 5:17pm

Mathematicians Solve Prime Factors Of Special 307-digit Hard-to-factor Number

Mathematicians and number buffs have their records. And today, an international team has broken a long-standing one in an impressive feat of calculation. On March 6, computer clusters from three institutions – the EPFL, the University of Bonn and NTT in Ja ...

Article - News Staff - May 21 2007 - 10:39am

Quasicrystals: Somewhere Between Order And Disorder

Professionally speaking, things in David Damanik's world don't line up – and he can prove it. In new research, Damanik and colleague Serguei Tcheremchantsev offer a key proof in the study of quasicrystals, crystal-like materials whose atoms don&# ...

Article - News Staff - May 24 2007 - 1:21am

In New Statistical Approach, Data Decide Models

A data-driven computational approach developed by a University of Illinois statistician is revealing secrets about inner Earth and discovering unique gene expressions in fruit flies, zebra fish and other living organisms. "Using mathematical concepts ...

Article - News Staff - May 24 2007 - 1:26am

Northeastern Nerds Make Rubik's Cube History

27 moves? They don't need no stinking 27 moves. Northeastern University Computer Science professor Gene Cooperman and graduate student Dan Kunkle set out to do what no one clamored for- solving any Rubik's Cube configuration in 26 moves, a new re ...

Article - Cash Simpson - May 31 2007 - 9:37pm

Which House? Real Estate By The Numbers

'Tis the season—the real estate season—and though this one isn't shaping up to be the boomer of two years ago, or even the desperate sell-off of last summer, people will nevertheless be buying houses. If you are one of these people, read on. It& ...

Article - Garth Sundem - Jul 25 2007 - 10:02am

How Sudoku Can Help You Solve The Mysteries Of Graph Theory

Have you ever been trying to solve a Sudoku puzzle and been gripped by a sinking feeling that maybe you were stuck with a lemon? That maybe the puzzle you are struggling with actually has no solution at all and, if you do find a solution, how can you be su ...

Article - News Staff - Jun 9 2007 - 6:03pm