Awesome Math

Computers use a variety of different algorithms to sort items into order. In this mesmerizing clip by programmer Timo Bingmann, we not only see how six different sorting algorithms bring order to chaos, but hear them as well.

While you might think that origami was exclusively an art form, engineers are taking inspiration from the paper-folding craft to create innovative designs that can shape-shift to fit objects to into smaller spaces, and enable compact mechanisms, while decreasing the number of parts used. Veritasium explains.

You have a better chance of being struck by lightning multiple times than winning a big lottery these days. But a couple of decades back, Stefan Mandel figured out that depending on the size of a lottery’s jackpot, if you bought every single combination, you’d be guaranteed a win. He just had to figure out how to buy them all.

21st century design shop Nervous System uses computer simulations to generate laser-cut plywood puzzles inspired by the crystalline structure of sliced geodes. Each puzzle has unique variations in its image, shape, and pieces. In 180-piece and 370-piece variants.

You’d think that chalk would be chalk, but it turns out that some of the brightest scholars on the planet believe that Hagoromo Fulltouch chalk is magical in some way. The Japanese chalk is said to not only write more smoothly and elegantly, but possess some mystical qualities.

Alex Bellos and Edmund Harris’ wonderful coloring book is designed for kids and adults who are fascinated with patterns, geometry, or mathematics. It’s packed with dozens of intricate and soothing designs to help keep your mind distracted from the day’s woes.

Even though there are 365 days in a year there’s a 50% chance that two people in a group of 23 will share the same birthday. Increase the number of people to 75 and there’s nearly a 100% chance of a match. How can that be? Kevin of Vsauce2 explains the math.

You’d think that when you say you want half a sandwich, it would simply take a straight cut down the middle to get your 50/50 share. But Numberphile explains how it’s not quite that simple of a task if you really want exactly half. Now how to apply theory to reality…

Tim from Grand Illusions shows off a desktop plaything that statistics and math geeks will love. It uses a funnel, pegs, and hundreds of tiny steel beads to demonstrate the nature of probability and randomness. You can buy one for yourself here or on Amazon.

Check out these patterned Easter eggs which create the illusion of movement when rotated in front of a strobe. The mathematical images were calculated with MATLAB and drawn with an EggBot. AA4CC produced a similar effect with a laser and photochromic paint.

In tribute to the popular mathematical constant, designers Martijn Koomen and Tadas Maksimovas decided to see if they could turn an illustration by Yau Hoong into an real world object – a functional carbon fiber bike that looks like the symbol for Pi.

After using science and math to point out all the ways in which the decks are stacked against you at carnival games, engineer Mark Rober is back to show us how coin-operated arcade prize games aren’t any better.

Digital artist Julius Horsthuis calls his short “fantasy sci-fi story without a story.” What makes his eye-popping film even more amazing is that the structures and planets were generated procedurally, using fractal math. The soundtrack by David Levy seals the deal.

Vox shares an anecdote from math professor Joe Mazur’s book Fluke. It’s about a seemingly miraculous reunion between a lady and her book. Mazur points out that investigation and statistics will reveal that such coincidences are not as rare as we think.

Math (and Sharpie) lover Vi Hart explores another practical application for calculus, as she explores the mathematics and physics behind drivers who ruin our days on a regular basis. It turns out that these stupid drivers just need to improve their math skills.

Mathpix uses your iOS device’s camera to detect mathematical equations, even handwritten ones. It will then instantly solve the equation and show you the solution step by step, as well as the equation’s graph if possible. Android version coming soon.

YouTuber Standupmaths shows us an old game from the 1960s called The Amazing Dr. NIM. This apparently simple game that combines moving plastic bits and marbles is basically impossible to beat if you follow the rules, thanks to a little mathematical trickery.

That funky mix of letters and numbers at the end of a YouTube URL is the unique pointer to any of the millions of videos on the site. Tom Scott ponders if and when they’ll run out of video IDs, and the rationale behind the current numbering scheme.

You’re stranded in the woods after eating a poisonous mushroom. A specific type of frog offers the antidote, and you must quickly find the female of the species. TED-ed explores how the math of conditional probability could help maximize our chances of survival.

Vsauce talks about how cardists use patterns and probabilities to create long-winded tricks that seem to ensure a random outcome, even though what they’ve really done is the opposite. And then your eyes will glaze over as he explains that 52! is a large number.

Raven Kwok created this mesmerizing music video for the track Skyline by Karma Fields. The visuals were created using code that is based in part on Voronoi tessellation, a geometric model first used by René Descartes back in 1644.

Math geek Vi Hart explains how to use extra scraps of notebook paper to fill time during boring lectures and mess with your mind at the same time. We forgot how much fun these things were.

From Michael John Blake, the man who brought us the soothing sounds of Pi and Tau comes another musical arithmetic interpretation. The mathematical constant in focus this time is the golden ratio phi.