Main content

Odd Socks and Algorithms

How can the techniques of computer science help us in everyday life? Tim Harford investigates.

How can the techniques of computer science help us in everyday life? We speak to Brian Christian co-author of Algorithms to Live by: The Computer Science of Human Decisions. He argues that the techniques of computer science can help us manage everyday situations in a more logical and efficient manner. So which algorithm can help solve the problem of odd socks? And what is the most efficient way of alphabetising your book collection? Tim Harford investigates.

(Photo: Socks. Credit: Angela N Perryman/Shutterstock)

Available now

9 minutes

Last on

Mon 1 Aug 2016 14:50GMT
91福利社 World Service except News Internet

More episodes

Previous

The Supermarket Effect

Next

Plastic Bags

See all episodes from More or Less

Broadcasts

  • Fri 29 Jul 2016 21:50GMT
    91福利社 World Service except East and Southern Africa & News Internet
  • Mon 1 Aug 2016 01:50GMT
    91福利社 World Service Americas and the Caribbean
  • Mon 1 Aug 2016 02:50GMT
    91福利社 World Service Online, Europe and the Middle East & UK DAB/Freeview only
  • Mon 1 Aug 2016 03:50GMT
    91福利社 World Service East Asia & South Asia only
  • Mon 1 Aug 2016 04:50GMT
    91福利社 World Service Australasia
  • Mon 1 Aug 2016 06:50GMT
    91福利社 World Service East and Southern Africa & Europe and the Middle East only
  • Mon 1 Aug 2016 14:50GMT
    91福利社 World Service except News Internet

Unlock the history and truth behind the data with The OU

Explore how numbers shape, and sometimes mislead us, with The Open University.

When can you trust statistics?

When can you trust statistics?

91福利社 Ideas discovers three easy ways to help make sense of statistics.

Podcast

  • More or Less

    Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics used in everyday life