Eugenia Cheng

Chicago

Scientist and Contributor at The Wall Street Journal

Freelance Writer at Freelance

Pure Mathematician+pianist. Grieving involuntary childlessness. Author: Unequal: The mathematics of when things do and don't add up, out 2025

Articles

1 + 1 = MORE (or LESS)

2 weeks ago | readersdigest.in | Eugenia Cheng

Why does one plus one equal two? One possible answer is “It just does!” That is really a variation on “Because I said so!”—an answer that has been frustrating children for generations. It is quite right to feel frustrated by that idea. Math can seem like a world of rules you just have to follow, which makes it seem rigid and boring. Whereas my love of math is somewhat driven by my love of breaking rules, or at least pushing against them.
Essay | I Am Childless, but Not by Choice

Aug 30, 2024 | wsj.com | Eugenia Cheng

By | Photographs by Brittany Sowacke for WSJ Your browser does not support the audio tag. 00:00 / 02:07This article is in your queue. I write popular books about mathematics, perform regularly as a pianist and teach at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. I live with a wonderful and loving partner in a beautiful house in my favorite city. In many ways, my life is what I always dreamed it would be, except for one glaring difference: I am not a mother. I wish I was.
Is Your Weight Loss a Trend or Just a Blip?

Aug 15, 2024 | wsj.com | Eugenia Cheng

After a stressful work schedule this past year, I find that I have gained some weight that I want to lose. I know how to do it, but one confusing thing is that my weight doesn’t tend to go down steadily when I diet and exercise but keeps fluctuating, with ups amid the downs. In mathematical terms this is a function that is not monotonic. Functions are mathematical tools that take an input and produce a related output.
Gaming Out the Scenarios of Life

Jun 27, 2024 | wsj.com | Eugenia Cheng

XManage CookiesWe and our partners use “cookies” and similar technologies on our websites so that we can offer you the best possible experience. Cookies allow us to access and store data on a device and process personal data, such as unique dentifiers, sent by a device to personalise content, tailor and report on advertising and analyse our traffic. We work with 83 partners to do this. By clicking “Yes, I Agree” you will allow the use of these cookies.
An Ad Boasting ‘A Million Burger and Topping Combinations’ Seemed Ridiculous. Actually, It’s An Understatement.

Apr 11, 2024 | wsj.com | Eugenia Cheng

I was walking through O’Hare airport last week and saw a sign for a new restaurant coming soon. The advertisement boasted “a million burger and topping combinations.” This seemed like a ludicrous exaggeration, but then my mathematical brain kicked in. The number of combinations from a given list of toppings is calculated as an exponential. For each topping you have a choice of saying “yes” or “no,” so there are two options for the first topping, two for the second, two for the third and so on.
Math in Drag

Mar 5, 2024 | press.jhu.edu | Kyne Santos |Eugenia Cheng |Anthony Bonato |Toronto Metropolitan

Back to Results New release Share this Title: Binding Type Unleash your inner math diva. Join sensational drag queen Kyne Santos on an extraordinary journey through the glamorous world of... math? This sassy book is your VIP pass, taking you behind the scenes with a TikTok superstar who shatters stereotypes and proves that math can be fascinating and fun, even for people who think they aren't good at it.
The Modular Method of Mahjong

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.
The Thrill of Exponential Grilling

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.
Finding a Rare Use for Trigonometry After High School

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.
The Wall Street Journal

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.