# Browsing category dialogue

A reader asks: I know that a square matrix $\mathbf{M}$ maps point $\mathbf{x}$ to point $\mathbf{y}$. Do I have enough information to work out $\mathbf{M}$? In a word: no, unless you're working in one dimension! In general, to work out a square transformation matrix in $n$ dimensions, you need to

## Is mathematics discovered or invented?

This is one of my least-favourite questions about maths. It's a question on the level of "Is Mo Farah the world's greatest athlete ever?" - to some people, the answer is clearly yes, and to others, just as clearly no (Bubka? Beamon? Lewis? Gebrselassie1 ?) and there's no real way

Oo, a question to answer! This one’s from Deborah. How would you solve: $\frac{1}{x-2} + \frac{1}{x} = \frac{3}{4}$ and $\frac{1}{x}+\frac{1}{2x+1}=\frac{7}{10}$? When I substitute my answer back in, I can’t get it to work out! Forgive me if my working is a bit pedestrian — I figure it’s better to err

## Free for all Friday

OK! It's the last Free for all Friday of the academic year! One last chance to ask all of those burning questions that have been on your mind. Well, what can I help you with this week? Just drop me a comment below and I'll do what I can to

## Free for all Friday (Midsummer edition)

It's midsummer, which of course means the start of summer. Happy solstice, if you're so inclined. Well, what can I help you with this week? Just drop me a comment below and I'll do what I can to answer it.

## Free for all Friday

Only a few weeks to the summer break now! Got anything nice planned? Well, what can I help you with this week? Just drop me a comment below and I'll do what I can to answer it.

## Free for all Friday

June already? That sounds like it's almost summer. However, bad luck, you still have a few weeks of exams to go. How are they coming along? Well, what can I help you with this week? Just drop me a comment below and I'll do what I can to answer it.

## Free for all Friday

Welcome to exam season. What's on your mind? Well, what can I help you with this week? Just drop me a comment below and I'll do what I can to answer it.

## Free for all Friday

Must be getting close to C1 and C2 now, huh? Well, what can I help you with this week? Just drop me a comment below and I'll do what I can to answer it.