iSquared Magazine Issue 8

This edition of iSquared magazine features:

Weapons of Financial Mass Destruction - The economic crisis was caused by a failure to understand the maths behind financial products. Kate Roberts takes a look at some of the mathematics behind financial derivatives and securitisation.

Arrows have a point part 2: Mathematics and patterns - Mathematics is all about studying patterns and solving puzzles. David Stern and Michael Obiero conclude their two-part article on quivers with a look at the patterns that arise in quiver family trees.

Clearing the waters - Cian Murphy explains how mathematical models show that it is dangerous for governments to make compromises over water pollution.

Safety in numbers - There are few people on earth who haven’t at some point been part of a crowd. But while the saying goes that there is safety in numbers, this only applies if someone has done the sums. Kirstie Pelling talks to mathematician Keith Still about his work on modelling crowds.

How do shapes fill spaces - Edmund Hariss gives a brief introduction to tiling by looking at the exhibit displayed at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition in 2009.

In addition, each issue of the iSquared magazine contains news items, puzzles, a book review and the work of a mathematical great. This issue tells the story of the work of the legendary mathematician and engineer Archimedes.