A statistical look at the world.
Pirates’ Treasure Problem
Today is your lucky day! You are the captain of a 10-member pirate ship, and together with the rest of your crew, you have found treasure: 100 indivisible gold coins! Now, the question arises as to how the treasure should be divided. Though it might be tempting as the captain to keep all the gold for yourself, there is a very strict pirate code. You must propose the first division, and every crew member gets to vote on your proposal. If your proposed division receives at least half of the votes, it is accepted. However, if your proposal is not accepted, you must, unfortunately, walk the plank. The second-highest-ranking pirate is then allowed to make a proposal under the same conditions, and so on. So, what is it that you propose in order to avoid the plank?
The Collatz Conjecture: Simple to State, Impossible to Solve
This article is on a math problem that sounds like a riddle your younger sibling could understand. But then, after hours (or decades) of trying, thinking, and computational simulations, you are still far away from a solution. Below you will find all about the Collatz conjecture.
Neha - Trainee De Nederlandsche Bank
Neha heeft de master Econometrics and Operations Research aan de Vrije Universiteit van Amsterdam gevolgd. In september 2024 is ze gestart als trainee bij De Nederlandsche Bank. In dit artikel vertelt ze meer over haar werk en het DNB traineeship.
An axiomatic way to life
Circa 300 before Christ the mathematician Euclid created the 13-book series The Elements. The most influential textbook of all time. Shaping logic as the way we know it today. Making use of definitions, common notions and axioms, which are unproven statements generally accepted to be true. Creating a framework which can be used to prove its propositions. This axiomatic approach has been extremely influential and can now be found in any field relying on logic. In this article I want to reflect on the influence of The Elements and talk about the axiomatic approach to reason that it formally introduced to the world.
Are You the Only You in an Infinite Universe?
Imagine walking down the street, thinking that no one else in the universe is exactly like you. Your experiences, your thoughts, and even your random quirks make you feel special. But what if, somewhere out there, another version of you exists—living an identical life, making the same choices, and even reading this very article right now? While this may sound like science fiction, if the universe is truly infinite, then probability suggests it could be reality. And not just once, but an infinite number of times.
The Zipper Merge: Why Merging Late is the Smartest Move
Traffic jams are a daily frustration for millions of drivers worldwide. One of the most misunderstood aspects of traffic flow is how to merge efficiently when two lanes come to one. While most drivers believe merging early is the polite and responsible choice, mathematics and traffic engineers prove otherwise. The zipper merge, where drivers use both lanes fully and merge at the last possible moment, is actually the best method for reducing traffic jams and maintaining traffic flow.
Chess and Mathematics: The Knight's Tour Problem
Chess and mathematics share deep connections, particularly in logic, strategy, and problem-solving. Many chess players have studied mathematical problems arising from the game. One famous example is the Knight’s Tour Problem—a pathfinding puzzle that dates back to 840 AD.
How Statistics Empower Players (but the house still wins)
Casinos have long tempted gamblers with the promise of making a quick fortune while playing stirring games. However, behind the spinning wheels and flashing lights is a whole world governed by statistics and probability. Every casino game is designed to ensure that, in the long run, the house wins. Still, throughout history, individuals have been attempting to use mathematics and probability to beat casinos. While some of these techniques can manipulate short-term probabilities in the favor of the player, the nature of statistics involved in gambling, ensures the casino holds its advantage.
Why We Keep Eating Chips
Unhealthy, ultra-processed food: most of us keep eating and buying it, despite knowing that it is not good for us. For some products, the urge to eat is so strong that once the bag is open, it will be empty in a short time. For me, this is the case with chips. Once the bag is open, the sad realization that I’ve eaten everything follows quickly. But what makes this ultra-processed food so irresistible?
Meet the 36th VESTING Board!
On Monday the 6th of January, the 36th board of VESTING was announced. Below, each of them has written a short introduction about themselves.