Eugenia Cheng

Jan 26, 2024 | wsj.com | Eugenia Cheng

I welcomed the New Year by playing mahjong with my family. The version we play starts with one person rolling three dice and then counting around the table of four players to whatever the total is. You count from “one” being yourself, and there are some mantras that I learned growing up, passed down from my grandparents, including “nine myself” and “13 myself.” This saves having to count all the way up if you throw a larger number on the dice.

Dec 21, 2023 | wsj.com | Eugenia Cheng

I’m a fan of all-seasons grilling and recently tried a gadget that very much helps with doing it in winter: a wireless meat thermometer. You can leave it in the meat on the grill, and it communicates the temperature to a phone app. Not only does it tell you the temperature without your having to go out in the cold, but it calculates an estimated cooking time from your target temperature. I used to do this myself using the math of exponentials.

Nov 9, 2023 | wsj.com | Eugenia Cheng

Mathematician Eugenia Cheng explores the uses of math beyond the classroom. Read more columns here. I recently needed to measure the angle of my computer keyboard, because I currently have it propped up in a rather makeshift manner, and I wanted to find a more permanent solution. I didn’t have a protractor handy, unlike when I was in high school and carried one at all times. But then I realized it was a rare chance to apply some trigonometry. Copyright ©2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

Nov 9, 2023 | on.wsj.com | Eugenia Cheng |Dawn Gilbertson |James Mackintosh

Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley was a top target as others tried to slow her momentum. The candidates were largely aligned on support for Israel, but divisions emerged on abortion and Ukraine.6 min read Analysis: Republicans Still Don’t Know How to Talk About Abortion Democrats Grow Nervous About Biden How quickly things change. After hitting a low in late October, the S&P 500 has risen for eight straight sessions. A ninth would make it the longest winning streak since November 2004.

Sep 15, 2023 | msn.com | Eugenia Cheng

Mathematician Eugenia Cheng explores the uses of math beyond the classroom. Read more columns here. When I’m planning a party or other event, it can be frustratingly difficult to get a reliable guest count in advance. Some people are unwilling to commit, while others express enthusiasm but then don’t show up. I’ve found this to be especially problematic since the pandemic, as people are either wary of social gatherings or just haven’t settled into new social norms.