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Articles on Mathematics

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The pandemic’s effect on student learning could exacerbate racial and economic achievement gaps. Laura Olivas/Moment Collection/Getty Images

COVID-19 hurt kids’ math learning more than reading and writing – with the biggest setbacks in fall 2020

A new analysis of standardized test scores from elementary schools in Michigan pinpoints when during the pandemic students fell most behind.
Andrew Wiles, the mathematician who presented a proof of Fermat’s last theorem back in 1993, stands next to the famous result. AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast

Proving Fermat’s last theorem: 2 mathematicians explain how building bridges within the discipline helped solve a centuries-old mystery

In 1993, a British mathematician solved a centuries-old problem. But he couldn’t have done it without the help of many other mathematicians, both historical and modern.
David Dunning and Justin Kruger tested psychology students to see whether the least skilled were also the most unaware. Rich Vintage/E+ via Getty Images

Debunking the Dunning-Kruger effect – the least skilled people know how much they don’t know, but everyone thinks they are better than average

The idea that the least skilled are the most unaware of their incompetency is pervasive in science and pop culture. But a new analysis of the data shows that the Dunning-Kruger effect may not be true.
Dobble is a card game with rules that makes it sound easier than it actually is. Ana Belen Garcia Sanchez/Shutterstock

Dobble: what is the psychology behind the game?

Dobble is a card game that originated in France in 2009. It involves observation, articulation and speed.
The risk of dying from COVID-19 varies from person to person. Jasmin Merdan/Moment via Getty Images

If 1% of COVID-19 cases result in death, does that mean you have a 1% chance of dying if you catch it? A mathematician explains the difference between a population statistic and your personal risk

It’s not entirely accurate to say that you’re more likely to die in a car accident than in a plane crash. Chances are, you’re not the average person.
Math scores plummeted during the COVID-19 pandemic. What will it take to raise them back up? Ridofranz / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Declines in math readiness underscore the urgency of math awareness

Nearly four decades after President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Math Awareness Week, math readiness and enrollment in college math programs continue to decline.

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