I am useless at mathematics. If company A grows at 5% a month, how much bigger is it after one year? [more inside]
posted on Jun 13, 2008 - 7 answers

How can I tile a sphere using the minimum number of differently shaped units? I have a 3 meter diameter sphere and I need to tile it using units that are each about 400 square cm (ie like a 20 x 20cm square). The units must be flat (ie, not spherical triangles). [more inside]
posted on Jun 2, 2008 - 14 answers

How can I implement an s-curve function in excel? [more inside]
posted on Apr 16, 2008 - 6 answers

I have a question about persistence of vision and flashing lights... There will be maths and biology involved. [more inside]
posted on Feb 6, 2008 - 3 answers

Teaching a university course for the first time: any tips or suggestions? [more inside]
posted on Dec 12, 2007 - 33 answers

Where am I going wrong with this (very simple) implicit derivative? [more inside]
posted on Nov 3, 2007 - 3 answers

Time for a ridiculous math question: I've got F=255M^(-1.08) and I need to work out M. [more inside]
posted on Oct 24, 2007 - 10 answers

Why is it that when I solve the inequality 0 ≤ arccos(x) <> cos(π/4)? Why do the operators switch direction? [more inside]
posted on Oct 19, 2007 - 11 answers

is there a book on the mathematics of chess? [more inside]
posted on Oct 18, 2007 - 6 answers

ABC x D = BADC. What single numbers (1-9) do the letters represent? Is there any way to arrive at the answer (a) by logical deduction all the way rather than with some trial-and-error and (b) so that a 10-year-old can follow the logic? [more inside]
posted on Sep 16, 2007 - 15 answers

(x + y)-(x*y)=79. What are x and y? [more inside]
posted on Jun 4, 2007 - 17 answers

Maths Question. [more inside]
posted on May 18, 2007 - 14 answers

Imagine a cube-shaped building, with ten cube-shaped rooms along each side (10 rooms long, 10 high & 10 deep). Each cubular room has 4 walls, 1 ceiling and 1 floor. Each of the 6 interior surfaces in all 1000 cubular rooms is decorated with a different piece of art. The rooms can be moved around the building, as if it were an enormous Rubik's cube, but they can also be spun on their axes, so all 6 walls of all 1000 cubes is capable of touching all the others (if the cube is so arranged). How many combinations of art within the 'Cube Gallery' are possible? If you can run me through the workings of the maths I would be extra grateful. Also, what technical words/phrases/language are useful/interesting in expressing this concept? [more inside]
posted on Apr 24, 2007 - 25 answers

ProbabilityFilter: Can I predict, from my bowling average, how many games it will be (on average) until I bowl a perfect 300 game? [more inside]
posted on Feb 19, 2007 - 26 answers

How do I calculate Gross Profit Percentage (GPP) on goods I sell? [more inside]
posted on Sep 9, 2006 - 2 answers

Do the curved triangular shapes made when cars (or even pedestrians) take "shortcuts" at T-junctions (seen here near my house and here in Western Sahara, although this seems like a deliberate one) have a name? What's the mathematics behind them? The psychology?
posted on Aug 25, 2006 - 23 answers

My maths skills are rubbish. Help me understand modulus remainders [more inside]
posted on Aug 8, 2006 - 10 answers

Quick maths [very basic trigometry] question. [more inside]
posted on Jul 30, 2006 - 9 answers

I'm on the hunt for sites and/or blogs about big ideas... Who wants to join me? [more inside]
posted on Jul 9, 2006 - 17 answers

Maths question: How can you make 25 using only the numbers 2,4,6,8? [more inside]
posted on Apr 24, 2006 - 38 answers

Two objects, both mass 1kg are placed 1m apart in a total vacuum. How long would it take for the force of gravity to pull them together (assuming no other forces act)? [more inside]
posted on Jan 4, 2006 - 51 answers

Is there a mathematical technique for simplifying ratios/fractions? [more inside]
posted on Dec 17, 2005 - 21 answers

Need someone to do a bit of maths for me: [more inside]
posted on Dec 15, 2005 - 9 answers

A crystal consists of 100,000,000 layers of atoms such that there is 1 atom in the first layer, 3 in the second, 6 in the third, 10 in the fourth, 15 in the fifth, and so forth. Exactly how many atoms are there in the entire crystal? [more inside]
posted on Oct 8, 2005 - 8 answers

How do I create an accurate and fair Top 100 list from people voting? [more inside]
posted on Jun 21, 2005 - 12 answers

I am trying to find some good interactive Maths tutorial software which goes from basic algebra through to Differential Equations and maybe beyond. Can anyone recommend anything with the emphasis on the interactive side - something which can keep me interested so nothing too dry - a nice colorful multimedia approach would be ideal.
posted on Jun 12, 2005 - 2 answers

Here's a question for the mathematically minded. A lot of the work I do involves rolling materials such as paper or plastic film onto rolls. Now, while I normally can guess by sight or weigh a roll to determine how much is on it, I got to wondering... [more inside]
posted on Apr 27, 2005 - 24 answers

Mathematical imbecile question: what's the simplest, most universal way to add a list of vectors? [more inside]
posted on Feb 19, 2005 - 7 answers

Exam time. 2 weeks until some massive exams, which mostly consist of memorising and regurgitating code snippets and proofs for maths theorems out. Any tips/hints for last minute revision to round off longer term memorisation?
posted on May 26, 2004 - 9 answers

How can a major key sound confident and happy, while a minor key can sound sinister or sad? Is it just centuries of musical brainwashing, or is there a real mathematical explanation?
posted on May 7, 2004 - 16 answers

I'd like to learn Math. I'm particularly interested in learning trig and calculus. I'm don't need to learn these disciplines for any purpose. I'm just interested. I'm a reasonably bright guy, with a logical mind (I've worked as a programmer), and I'm a good self-learner. I'm not in a rush (don't mind working at this for a few years). What books/resources would you recommend? I should probably go all the way back to Algebra, which is pretty much where I left off in High School years ago.
posted on Dec 27, 2003 - 12 answers