Math

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  1. Math

    Knot Divided in Snow

    The Möbius strip gets embedded in a knotty block of snow.

    By Ivars Peterson
  2. Math

    Hospitals motivated to skimp on infection control

    A new mathematical model suggests that the presence of nearby hospitals may give a hospital an economic incentive to relax its infection-control efforts.

    By Erica Klarreich
  3. Math

    Sizing Up Complex Webs: Close or far, many networks look the same

    Complex networks, including the World Wide Web, have a common architecture with snowflakes and trees.

    By Erica Klarreich
  4. Math

    Thirteen Spades

    Poor shuffling can distort play in the game of bridge.

    By Robert Potter
  5. Math

    When Laziness Pays: Math explains how cooperation and cheating evolve

    Researchers have developed a mathematical model that helps explain how cooperation and cheating evolve among simple organisms.

    By Erica Klarreich
  6. Math

    Going with the Crowd

    Choosing a restaurant can pack them in.

    By Ivars Peterson
  7. Math

    Artful Routes

    Finding the shortest routes linking cities can also produce intricate continuous-line portraits.

    By Ivars Peterson
  8. Math

    Sphere Worlds

    Painting on spheres offers a novel perspective on the world.

    By Ivars Peterson
  9. Math

    Pennies in a Tray

    Packing pennies in circular trays can lead to intriguing mathematical complexities.

    By Ivars Peterson
  10. Math

    Take a Chance

    Researchers are helping to turn the art of generating randomness into a precise science.

    By Erica Klarreich
  11. Math

    Cruise Control and Traffic Flow

    Adaptive cruise control can help smooth out traffic flow.

    By Ivars Peterson
  12. Math

    Con Artist: Scanning program can discern true art

    A new mathematical tool distills painting style into an array of statistics as a potential means to spot forgeries.

    By Erica Klarreich
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