http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/computers_math/mathematics/ Explore a wide range of recent research in mathematics. From mathematical modeling to why some people have difficulty learning math, read all the math-related news here. en-us Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:05:01 EST Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:05:01 EST 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/computers_math/mathematics/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120210133346.htm Cancer risks. Investment alternatives. Calories. Numbers are everywhere in daily life, and they figure into all sorts of decisions. A new article examines how people who are numerate -- that's like literacy, but for numbers -- understand numbers better and process information differently so that they ultimately make more informed decisions. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:33:33 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120210133346.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120207202805.htm The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1992 brought an influx of Soviet mathematicians to US institutions, and those scholars' differing areas of specialization have changed the way math is studied and taught in this country, according to new research. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:28:28 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120207202805.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111215095454.htm New encryption research may lead to improved data security, even for operations performed on remote servers. Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:54:54 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111215095454.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111212153123.htm A major study of recent international data on school mathematics performance casts doubt on some common assumptions about gender and math achievement -- in particular, the idea that girls and women have less ability due to a difference in biology. Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:31:31 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111212153123.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111208092602.htm Using a new mathematical methodology, researchers have created a scientifically rigorous analogy showing the similarities between the physical structure of spider silk and the sonic structure of a musical composition, proving that the structure of each relates to its function in an equivalent way. The comparison begins with the primary building blocks of each item and explains that structural patterns are directly related to the functional properties of silk and a melodic riff. Thu, 08 Dec 2011 09:26:26 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111208092602.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111206151526.htm Computer scientists who set out to simulate all rainbows found in nature, wound up answering questions about the physics of rainbows as well. The scientists recreated a wide variety of rainbows by using an improved method for simulating how light interacts with water drops of various shapes and sizes. Their new approach even yielded realistic simulations of difficult-to-replicate "twinned" rainbows that split their primary bow in two. Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:15:15 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111206151526.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111204144700.htm Life scientists have produced the most comprehensive mathematical model ever devised to track the health of populations exposed to environmental change. Sun, 04 Dec 2011 14:47:47 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111204144700.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111121194037.htm Scientists have designed a first draft of a mathematical model that someday could guide treatment decisions for advanced prostate cancer, in part by helping doctors predict how individual patients will respond to therapy based on the biology of their tumors. These decisions would apply to treatment of cancer that has already spread beyond the prostate gland or that has recurred after initial treatments, such as surgery or radiation. Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:40:40 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111121194037.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111109125737.htm Preschool children who hear their parents describe the size and shape of objects and then use those words themselves perform better on tests of their spatial skills, researchers have found. The study is the first to show that learning to use a wide range of spatial words predicts children's later spatial thinking, which in turn is important in mathematics, science and technology. Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:57:57 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111109125737.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111106151459.htm Whether a species can evolve to survive climate change may depend on the biodiversity of its ecological community, according to a new mathematical model that simulates the effect of climate change on plants and pollinators. Sun, 06 Nov 2011 15:14:14 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111106151459.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111031220609.htm From the dotcom bust in the late nineties to the housing crash in the run-up to the 2008 crisis, financial bubbles have been a topic of major concern. Identifying bubbles is important in order to prevent collapses that can severely impact nations and economies. A mathematical model has now been proposed for the detection of financial bubbles in order to prevent their collapse. Mon, 31 Oct 2011 22:06:06 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111031220609.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111031121234.htm Mathematicians working with the Los Angeles Police Department to analyze crime patterns have designed a mathematical algorithm to identify street gangs involved in unsolved violent crimes -- the first scholarly study of gang violence of its kind. Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:12:12 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111031121234.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111031121216.htm Researchers have pioneered a technique that will allow doctors to ascertain the healthy shape of red blood cells in just a few seconds, by analyzing the light scattered off hundreds of cells at a time. Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:12:12 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111031121216.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111028103217.htm A milestone in the description of complex processes -- for example the ups and downs of share prices -- has been reached by mathematicians. Researchers have developed a new method in spectral analysis, which allows a classical mathematical model assumption, so-called stationarity, to be precisely measured and determined for the first time. The approach also makes it possible to construct statistical tests that are considerably better and more accurate than previous methods. Fri, 28 Oct 2011 10:32:32 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111028103217.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111020024131.htm Using brain-imaging technology for the first time with people experiencing mathematics anxiety, scientists have gained new insights into how some students are able to overcome their fears and succeed in math. For the highly math anxious, researchers found a strong link between math success and activity in a network of brain areas in the frontal and parietal lobes involved in controlling attention and regulating negative emotional reactions. Thu, 20 Oct 2011 02:41:41 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111020024131.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111019210130.htm With Major League Baseball's World Series set to begin tomorrow, math professor Bruce Bukiet has once again analyzed the players most deserving of winning baseball's most important awards for the 2011 season. He also provides the probability of Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals winning the World Series. Wed, 19 Oct 2011 21:01:01 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111019210130.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111013162937.htm Scientists have taken a major step toward developing robot biologists. They have shown that their system, the Automated Biology Explorer, can solve a complicated biology problem from scratch. Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:29:29 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111013162937.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111013113820.htm A new study found college students -- only weeks away from final exams and in the library -- tend to pare use of electronics. It's their way to manage technology that permeates their lives. Thu, 13 Oct 2011 11:38:38 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111013113820.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111013085225.htm In a new article, mathematicians describe how modern computer technology has vastly expanded our ability to discover new mathematical results. By computing mathematical expressions to very high precision, the computer can discover completely unexpected relationships and formulas, the authors say. Thu, 13 Oct 2011 08:52:52 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111013085225.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111012161306.htm Researchers have quantified the number of possible decisions that an individual cell can make after receiving a cue from its environment, and surprisingly, it's only two. Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:13:13 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111012161306.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111011132052.htm The Major League Baseball Division Series is underway and math professors have once again analyzed the probability of each team advancing to the World Series. Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:20:20 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111011132052.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111011102111.htm In a two-month summer course on high-performance computing, promising undergrads compete to create innovative applications. This summer's winner developed a touchscreen Braille writer that stands to revolutionize how the blind negotiate an unseen world by replacing devices costing up to 10 times more. Tue, 11 Oct 2011 10:21:21 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111011102111.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111010083438.htm Chance and probability play a natural role in statistical physics. Inspired by confetti, researchers in Sweden are gaining better understanding of random phenomena and refine the tools that can be used to study them. Mon, 10 Oct 2011 08:34:34 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111010083438.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111005143724.htm Carefully tracking the rate of response of human lung tumors during the first weeks of treatment can predict which cancers will undergo sustained regression, suggests a new study. Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:37:37 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111005143724.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111004113751.htm A new study using MRI scans has found that depression frequently seems to uncouple the brain's 'hate circuit'. Tue, 04 Oct 2011 11:37:37 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111004113751.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110915113629.htm A new mathematical model mimics the process of speech and noise recognition in the human brain efficiently. It may explain experimental findings that remained unclear so far. Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:36:36 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110915113629.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110914171751.htm A new study reports that the precision with which preschoolers estimate quantities, prior to any formal education in mathematics, predicts their mathematics ability in elementary school, according to researchers. Wed, 14 Sep 2011 17:17:17 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110914171751.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110829114908.htm Human language can appear to be a chaotic and confusing jumble of words. Fortunately, order -- or loss of entropy -- may increase in a predictable and mathematically consistent manner if communication lines are left open long enough. Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:49:49 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110829114908.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110828210837.htm It may be possible to eliminate the deadly dengue fever by infecting mosquitoes with a bacterium called Wolbachia that prevents the mosquitoes from transmitting the dengue virus to humans. A new mathematical model may be helpful in getting the bacteria established in mosquito populations. Sun, 28 Aug 2011 21:08:08 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110828210837.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110825193104.htm Researchers have created a mathematical model -- and an accompanying online weight simulation tool -- of what happens when people of varying weights, diets and exercise habits try to change their weight. The findings challenge the commonly held belief that eating 3,500 fewer calories -- or burning them off exercising -- will always result in a pound of weight loss. Thu, 25 Aug 2011 19:31:31 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110825193104.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110825124254.htm A new mathematical model has applications to the study of gas kicks in deep-water oil wells, which in worst-case scenarios can lead to blowouts. Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:42:42 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110825124254.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110818130210.htm Synchronization occurs when individual elements in a complex network behave in line with each other. This applies to real-life examples such as the way neurons fire during an epileptic seizure or the phenomenon of crickets falling into step with one another. Thu, 18 Aug 2011 13:02:02 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110818130210.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110809104314.htm Flashing a wink and a smirk might be second nature for some people, but computer animators can be hard-pressed to depict such an expression realistically. Now scientists have created computerized models derived from actors' faces that reflect a full range of natural expressions while also giving animators the ability to manipulate facial poses. Tue, 09 Aug 2011 10:43:43 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110809104314.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110808152428.htm We accept that some people are born with a talent for music or art or athletics. But what about mathematics? Do some of us just arrive in the world with better math skills than others? It seems we do, at least according to the results of a new study. The research indicates that math ability in preschool children is strongly linked to their inborn and primitive "number sense," called an "Approximate Number System" or ANS. Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:24:24 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110808152428.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110808104521.htm Self-directed learning has long been heralded as the key to successful education. Yet until now, there has been little research into this theory. Educational researchers in Germany have now shown that schoolchildren can independently develop strategies for solving complex mathematical tasks, with weaker students proving just as capable as their stronger classmates. Mon, 08 Aug 2011 10:45:45 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110808104521.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110808083655.htm Do fish swimming in schools or birds flying in flocks have a collective spirit that enables them to move as one? Are they animals with highly developed cognition, a complex instinct or a telepathic gift? A recent study conducted researchers in the Netherlands points in another direction. Mathematical models of self-organization show that complicated collective behavior can be the consequence of a few simple behavioral rules. Mon, 08 Aug 2011 08:36:36 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110808083655.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110803102906.htm Scheduling umpire crews in Major League Baseball can be a daunting task. However, a professor of management science and his collaborators have created a novel solution. The team developed an efficient method to generate high-quality schedules for the MLB. Wed, 03 Aug 2011 10:29:29 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110803102906.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110801122954.htm Most people know how to count, but the way we master this ability remains something of a puzzle. Now a formal model of the cognitive basis of counting has been developed. Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:29:29 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110801122954.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110801094728.htm Researchers have developed a mathematical model to understand and predict the progress of a tumor, from its early stages to metastasis, in hopes of creating highly personalized treatment strategies for patients who have cancer. Mon, 01 Aug 2011 09:47:47 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110801094728.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110728082544.htm A researcher in Israel has developed a teaching platform that integrates technology, a digital curriculum, real-time class participation, and teacher empowerment -- and early results indicate that it's re-energizing education for children and teachers alike. Thu, 28 Jul 2011 08:25:25 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110728082544.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110728082412.htm Researchers have developed an electronic tongue which can identify different types of cava wines, thanks to a combination of sensor systems and advanced mathematical procedures. The device automatically produces classifications similar to those of a sommelier and can be useful in detecting defects during the elaboration of these wines. Thu, 28 Jul 2011 08:24:24 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110728082412.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110720142632.htm Researchers have developed a mathematical framework that could one day form the basis of technologies that turn road vibrations, airport runway noise and other "junk" energy into useful power. Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:26:26 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110720142632.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110720142518.htm Researchers have developed a computer modeling method to accurately predict how a peripheral nerve axon responds to electrical stimuli, slashing the complex work from an inhibitory weeks-long process to just a few seconds. Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:25:25 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110720142518.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110718201514.htm Mathematical modeling of infectious diseases is an important tool in the understanding and prediction of epidemics. Knowledge of social interactions is used to understand how infectious diseases spread through populations and how to control epidemics. New research shows that a model, which included dynamic information about the heterogeneity of contact length and rate of making new contacts, was as effective as a more complex model which included the order of contacts. Mon, 18 Jul 2011 20:15:15 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110718201514.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110711131605.htm Psychologists have identified the beginning of first grade math skills that teachers and parents should target to effectively improve children's later math learning. Mon, 11 Jul 2011 13:16:16 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110711131605.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110708160344.htm Protease inhibitor drugs are one of the major weapons in the fight against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, but their effectiveness is limited as the virus mutates and develops resistance to the drugs over time. Now a new tool has been developed to help predict the location of the mutations that lead to drug resistance. Fri, 08 Jul 2011 16:03:03 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110708160344.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110628112758.htm From educators to leaders in industry, there is broad agreement that US schools have a crucial challenge in improving teaching and learning in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) among students from kindergarten through high school. A background in STEM is not only essential to many current and future careers; it is also a means for citizens to understand and participate in an increasingly complex world -- from understanding the challenges of environmental sustainability to addressing the need for alternative sources of energy. Tue, 28 Jun 2011 11:27:27 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110628112758.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110628112316.htm Designing fiber optic networks involves finding the most efficient way to connect phones and computers that are in different places -- a costly and time-consuming process. Now researchers have developed a model that can find optimal connections 10,000 times more quickly, using less computing power to solve the problem. Tue, 28 Jun 2011 11:23:23 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110628112316.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110627122935.htm Two new papers demonstrate the successes of using bifurcation theory and dynamical systems approaches to solve biological puzzles. Mon, 27 Jun 2011 12:29:29 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110627122935.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110624111936.htm Mate choice, competition, and the variety of resources available are the key factors influencing how a species evolves into separate species, according to a new mathematical model that integrates all three factors to reveal the dynamics at play in a process called sympatric speciation. Fri, 24 Jun 2011 11:19:19 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110624111936.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110623141323.htm For years, it has been assumed that teachers -- specifically math teachers -- need to master the content they intend to teach. And the best way to do this is to take courses beyond that content. Yet new research does not support this common belief. There is little evidence that advanced courses in mathematics contribute to more effective teaching. Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:13:13 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110623141323.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110622125702.htm How do you teach math students to speak and write effectively about what they do? Crucially, how do you teach their teachers -- themselves mathematicians -- how to impart and evaluate these skills? A group of instructors has developed a tool to encourage teacher-to-teacher collaboration, bridging educators with similar challenges in different courses and from semester to semester. Wed, 22 Jun 2011 12:57:57 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110622125702.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110620161310.htm Two new techniques for computer-vision technology mimic how humans perceive three-dimensional shapes by instantly recognizing objects no matter how they are twisted or bent, an advance that could help machines see more like people. Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:13:13 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110620161310.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110617081552.htm Having a poor "gut sense" of numbers can lead to a mathematical learning disability and difficulty in achieving basic math proficiency. This inaccurate number sense is just one cause of math learning disabilities, according to researchers. Fri, 17 Jun 2011 08:15:15 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110617081552.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110616092654.htm The first roadmap to mathematical modeling of a powerful basic "decision circuit" in breast cancer has been developed. The preliminary mathematical model is the first result of work to develop a systems approach to understanding and treating one of the most common forms of breast cancer. Thu, 16 Jun 2011 09:26:26 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110616092654.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110614115031.htm Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a tool to provide confidential communication between two remote parties. QKD is perfectly secure in principle, but researchers have long been aware that loopholes may arise when QKD is put into practice. Now, for the first time, researchers have implemented a "perfect eavesdropper" that exploits just such a loophole. The results highlight the importance of identifying imperfections in the implementation of QKD as a step towards fixing them. Tue, 14 Jun 2011 11:50:50 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110614115031.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110609151529.htm It's time for the United States to consider establishing higher standards for math teachers if the nation is going to break its "vicious cycle" of mediocrity, an education scholar argues. Thu, 09 Jun 2011 15:15:15 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110609151529.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110602111450.htm Mathematical models analyzing how a cholera outbreak spread in Zimbabwe are providing new insights into the most effective vaccination strategies for preventing future cholera epidemics, according to researchers. Thu, 02 Jun 2011 11:14:14 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110602111450.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110526141414.htm Students who struggle to learn mathematics may have a neurocognitive disorder that inhibits the acquisition of basic numerical and arithmetic concepts, according to a new article. Specialized teaching for individuals with dyscalculia, the mathematical equivalent of dyslexia, should be made widely available in mainstream education, according to a new review. Thu, 26 May 2011 14:14:14 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110526141414.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110525115902.htm All human beings may have the ability to understand elementary geometry, independently of their culture or their level of education. In a spherical universe, researchers found that Amazonian Indians gave better answers than French or North American participants who, by virtue of learning geometry at school, acquire greater familiarity with planar geometry than with spherical geometry. Wed, 25 May 2011 11:59:59 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110525115902.htm