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For information on how to unsubscribe, as well as our privacy practices and commitment to protecting your privacy, check out our[Privacy Policy](https://www.iflscience.com/privacy-policy) Ad [IFLScience Home](https://www.iflscience.com/) Support Science Journalism Become a member [SUBSCRIBE](https://www.iflscience.com/subscribe) Support Science Journalism Become a member [SUBSCRIBE](https://www.iflscience.com/subscribe) - [ ACCOUNT](https://www.iflscience.com/my-account) -  SIGN IN -  SIGN OUT  Search - Topics - [Humans](https://www.iflscience.com/humans) - [Health & Medicine](https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine) - [Nature](https://www.iflscience.com/nature) - [Space & Physics](https://www.iflscience.com/space-and-physics) - [Technology](https://www.iflscience.com/technology) - [Culture & Society](https://www.iflscience.com/culture-and-society) - [Latest](https://www.iflscience.com/latest) - [Trending](https://www.iflscience.com/trending) - [Video](https://www.iflscience.com/videos) - [Podcasts](https://www.iflscience.com/podcasts) - [Events](https://www.iflscience.com/events) - [NewsLetters](https://www.iflscience.com/newsletters) - [Magazine](https://www.iflscience.com/curious-magazine) - More - [Features](https://www.iflscience.com/features) - [eBooks](https://www.iflscience.com/ebooks) - [About Us](https://www.iflscience.com/about) - [The vault](https://www.iflscience.com/vault) -  Support Science Journalism Become a member [SUBSCRIBE](https://www.iflscience.com/subscribe) - [Trending](https://www.iflscience.com/trending) - [Latest](https://www.iflscience.com/latest) - Topics - [Humans](https://www.iflscience.com/humans) - [Health & Medicine](https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine) - [Nature](https://www.iflscience.com/nature) - [Space & Physics](https://www.iflscience.com/space-and-physics) - [Technology](https://www.iflscience.com/technology) - [Culture & Society](https://www.iflscience.com/culture-and-society) - [Features](https://www.iflscience.com/features) - [Video](https://www.iflscience.com/videos) - [Podcasts](https://www.iflscience.com/podcasts) - [Events](https://www.iflscience.com/events) - [NewsLetters](https://www.iflscience.com/newsletters) - [Magazine](https://www.iflscience.com/curious-magazine) - More - [eBooks](https://www.iflscience.com/ebooks) - [About Us](https://www.iflscience.com/about) - [THE VAULT](https://www.iflscience.com/vault) - [Sign Out]() - Support Science Journalism Become a member [UPGRADE](https://www.iflscience.com/subscribe) - [ MY ACCOUNT](https://www.iflscience.com/my-account) - [ SIGN OUT]() - [ MY ACCOUNT](https://www.iflscience.com/my-account) - [THE VAULT](https://www.iflscience.com/vault) - [MAGAZINE](https://www.iflscience.com/curious-magazine) - [ SIGN OUT]() PUBLISHEDMarch 14, 2016 # What Is The Most Beautiful Equation Known To Mankind? ##  Tom Hale  [Tom Hale](https://www.iflscience.com/tom-hale) Senior Journalist - [Facebook](https://twitter.com/tommyhale91 "Tom Hale twitter") Tom has a Master's degree in Journalism. His editorial work covers anything from archaeology and the environment to technology and culture. [View full profile](https://www.iflscience.com/tom-hale) *** [Read IFLScience Editorial Policy](https://www.iflscience.com/editorial-mission-statement) - [](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-hale-aa4577a6/ "Tom Hale Linkedin") - [](https://twitter.com/tommyhale91 "Tom Hale twitter") - [](mailto:thale@iflscience.com "Tom Hale email") Senior Journalist Tom has a Master's degree in Journalism. His editorial work covers anything from archaeology and the environment to technology and culture.[View full profile](https://www.iflscience.com/tom-hale "View full profile") Tom has a Master's degree in Journalism. His editorial work covers anything from archaeology and the environment to technology and culture. [View full profile](https://www.iflscience.com/tom-hale "View full profile") DOWNLOAD PDF VERSION SHARE      [FOLLOW US ONNEWS](https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMMDnygsw8ILiAw?hl=en-GB&gl=GB&ceid=GB%3Aen)  ChristianChan/Shutterstock DOWNLOAD PDF VERSION SHARE      [FOLLOW US ONNEWS](https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMMDnygsw8ILiAw?hl=en-GB&gl=GB&ceid=GB%3Aen) It’s often said that if you want to understand the universe, you need to think in equations. While mathematics can easily set off a high school flashback, it’s often only the raw power of numbers that have the ability to express the inexpressible complexity and beauty of our universe. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content. So, surely with that in mind, [BBC Earth](http://www.bbc.co.uk/earth/story/20160120-you-decide-what-is-the-most-beautiful-equation-ever-written) asked a group of mathematicians and physicists what their favourite equation was. Their picks included: The Dirac equation, Riemann's formula, Pi (how it relates to the circumference of a circle), and Einstein's field equation. This shortlist was then put up for the public to choose their favourite in an online poll. After nearly 60,000 votes, the winners were announced back in January, but as it's Pi Day we thought we'd take another look. The most popular equation, with nearly 20,000 votes, was “the Dirac Equation.” The equation is loved both for its elegance and as a symbol of 20th century physics. The equation was proposed in 1928 by the British physicist Paul Dirac, in an attempt to weld together ideas of Einstein’s relativity with quantum mechanics. In essence, Dirac managed to explain how electrons behave when they travel close to the speed of light. This work went on to explain and predict the existence of antimatter; the idea that every particle has a mirror-image antiparticle. This, of course, turned out to be right on the money. Coming in at number two was “Euler’s Identity”. The equation was first described in the 1748 book, “Introduction to Analysis of the Infinite” by Leonhard Euler. This cult favorite of equations has cropped up in “[The Simpsons](http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/sep/22/the-simpsons-secret-formula-maths-simon-singh)” on more than one occasion, and was also Richard Feynman's [personal favourite](http://www.livescience.com/51399-eulers-identity.html), describing it as "the most remarkable formula in mathematics." It combines five of math’s most fundamental constants: 0, 1, e, i, and π. On top of that is has three mathematical operations: addition, multiplication, and exponentiation. It also has a lot of applications outside the ivory tower, from communication, meteorology, medicine, navigation, energy, robotics, manufacturing, and finance. These characteristics have given the equation a reputation of being the key to something an infinitely connected universe and something deeply [“transcendental”](http://www.wired.com/2014/11/eulers-identity/). The third most popular was Pi (π). It’s beauty stems from the idea it is simultaneously simple yet profoundly deep. Most simply put, the irrational number Pi explains the relationship between a circle’s diameter and its circumference. That number is 3.141... and so on, to infinity, in a non predictable pattern.  *A visualization of how Pi works. John Reid/Wikimedia Commons* Here’s the rest of the results, going from most popular to least: 4) Einstein's field equation 5) Riemann's formula 6) the wave equation 7) Euler-Lagrange equation 8) Bayes's theorem 9) a "simple" arithmetic progression 10) Hamilton's quaternion formula 11) the logistic map and 12) the Yang-Baxter equation. Make sure you check out [BBC Earth](http://www.bbc.co.uk/earth/story/20160120-you-decide-what-is-the-most-beautiful-equation-ever-written) for more information behind these little mathematical windows to the universe. ***  ORIGINALLY PUBLISHEDMarch 14, 2016 Written by [Tom Hale](https://www.iflscience.com/tom-hale) Discuss (0 CommentS) Discuss (0 CommentS) SHARE      [FOLLOW US ONNEWS](https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMMDnygsw8ILiAw?hl=en-GB&gl=GB&ceid=GB%3Aen)  #### Multimedia [link to article](https://www.iflscience.com/the-science-of-magic-find-out-more-in-issue-41-of-curious-out-now-81543) [The Science Of Magic: Find Out More In Issue 41 Of CURIOUS – Out Now](https://www.iflscience.com/the-science-of-magic-find-out-more-in-issue-41-of-curious-out-now-81543)  CURIOUS MAGAZINE  [The Science Of Magic: Find Out More In Issue 41 Of CURIOUS – Out Now](https://www.iflscience.com/the-science-of-magic-find-out-more-in-issue-41-of-curious-out-now-81543) [link to article](https://www.iflscience.com/iflscience-we-have-questions-can-sheep-livers-predict-the-future-81634) [IFLScience We Have Questions: Can Sheep Livers Predict The Future?](https://www.iflscience.com/iflscience-we-have-questions-can-sheep-livers-predict-the-future-81634)   [IFLScience We Have Questions: Can Sheep Livers Predict The Future?](https://www.iflscience.com/iflscience-we-have-questions-can-sheep-livers-predict-the-future-81634) [link to article](https://www.iflscience.com/meet-some-of-earths-mightiest-predators-81487) [Meet Some Of Earth's Mightiest Predators](https://www.iflscience.com/meet-some-of-earths-mightiest-predators-81487)   [Meet Some Of Earth's Mightiest Predators](https://www.iflscience.com/meet-some-of-earths-mightiest-predators-81487) [More Multimedia](https://www.iflscience.com/multimedia) [IFLScience Home](https://www.iflscience.com/) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/IFLScience "Follow on FaceBook") [Facebook](https://twitter.com/intent/follow?source=followbutton&variant=1.0&screen_name=IFLScience "Follow on Twitter") [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/c/IFLScienceOfficial?sub_confirmation=1 "Follow on Youtube") [RSS](https://www.iflscience.com/rss/ifls-latest-rss.xml "Follow on RSS") The [IFLScience Home](https://www.iflscience.com/) Newsletter Receive weekly science coverage direct to your inbox [Sign up today\!](https://www.iflscience.com/newsletters) #### Navigation - [Home](https://www.iflscience.com/) - [Team](https://www.iflscience.com/team) - [About](https://www.iflscience.com/about) - [Careers](https://www.iflscience.com/careers) - [Subscribe](https://www.iflscience.com/subscribe) - [Company & Product Insights](https://www.iflscience.com/company-and-product-insights) #### Contact - [Contact](https://www.iflscience.com/contact) - [Write For Us](https://www.iflscience.com/write-for-us) - [Submit News](https://www.iflscience.com/submit-news) - [Advertise With Us](https://www.iflscience.com/advertise) - [FAQs & Support](https://www.iflscience.com/support) #### Editorial - [Editorial Mission](https://www.iflscience.com/editorial-mission-statement) - [Correction Policy](https://www.iflscience.com/correction-policy) - [Comment Policy](https://www.iflscience.com/comment-policy) - [Transparency Policy](https://www.iflscience.com/transparency-policy) - [Fact-Checking Policy](https://www.iflscience.com/fact-checking-policy) #### Legal - [Terms Of Use](https://www.iflscience.com/terms-of-use) - [Cookie Policy](https://www.iflscience.com/cookie-policy) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.iflscience.com/privacy-policy) - [Advertising Policy](https://www.iflscience.com/advertising-policy) - [Corporate Social Responsibility](https://www.iflscience.com/corporate-social-responsibility) - [Change Cookie Settings](https://www.iflscience.com/cookie-policy#ot-opt-out) - [Do Not Sell](https://www.iflscience.com/do-not-sell) \&copy 2025 IFLScience. 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