While computers are poor at creativity, they are adept at crunching through vast numbers of solutions to modern problems where there are numerous complex variables at play. Take the question of finding the best delivery plan for a distribution company - where best to begin? How many vehicles? Which stretches of road need to be avoided at which times? If you want to get close to a sensible answer, you need to ask a computer.

Educators and researchers agree early literacy experiences are important for children’s cognitive and language development. But what about STEM? Here are five things parents can do every day to help develop science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills from a young age.

Like most people, my knowledge of maths is limited to the skills I need to function in society. (I blame crappy high school teachers for that.) However, the diversity and implications of maths theory is truly fascinating if you're willing to give it a chance. This animated map breaks down the basics.

Mathematics is all around us, and it has shaped our understanding of the world in countless ways. The following 17 equations changed the course of history - we explain what they mean.

"Anyone here good at geometry? I suck, and my kid needs help. Help!"

A national searchable database of both locally available and online science, technology, engineering and mathematics activities is up and running. STARportal is the nation's first dedicated platform connecting students, parents and teachers with STEM events in their local community, as well as online activities.

How many times have you seen a post online or part of your social media feed that says something like “This Math Problem Is Stumping the Whole Internet. Can You Solve It?” or “Apparently 9 out of 10 people get this wrong. Do you know the answer?”

There's a reason why some people get different answers to these frustrating viral maths problems. You need to learn how to "read" the maths.

Equations may as well be a different language, considering how cryptic they can look to the untrained eye. Fortunately, just like the various apps that can use your camera to live-translate, say, Spanish or German, so too does a handy mobile tool exist for mathematics.

Calculators are awesome, but they're not always handy. More to the point, no one wants to be seen reaching for the calculator on their mobile phone when it's time to figure out a 15 per cent gratuity. Here are ten tips to help you crunch numbers in your head.

Many of the killer interview questions we've featured before would apply in any job. For developer roles, you'll often be asked to write code to solve a particular problem. As student Michael Kozakov discovered when being interviewed by Twitter, the kicker is that you have to write not just functional code, but the most efficient code.

Lots of kids have trouble remembering their times tables. Learning them by rote can mean a child can accurately recite the times tables, but has no idea what the numbers actually mean or how to apply this knowledge in a maths problem.

Some viral posts on Facebook refuse to die -- especially when they challenge users' intelligence. For the past couple of years, this quiz has been periodically popping up on the social media service to test the mental muscles of more than three million users. Apparently, solving the puzzle proves you have a higher IQ than the average person. Have a plug and see how you go!

If you're anything like me, you may have forgotten how to do many types of mathematical equations without resorting to Google or a calculator app, though having a trick up your sleeve to do so can come in handy sometimes.

Every few years, the Organisation for Economic Development (OECD) assesses the mathematics level of hundreds of thousands of students around the world. In 2000, when the first tests were held, Australia ranked 6th for maths. In the most recent results, we had dropped to 19th. Here's why we need to be literate in maths, and why our failure to do so is spelling bad news for our careers, life choices -- and even our mental health.

Puzzles of logic are one of the best ways to measure your intelligence, quick wits and ability to think outside the box. The following selection of riddles, brain-teasers and numeric sequences are designed to separate the deep thinkers from the dunces. They start off easy and get progressively harder -- best grab a pen and paper!

In 2013, a meeting of academics specialising in teaching first year undergraduate mathematics (known as the FYiMaths network) identified that the broad removal of mathematics prerequisites for many undergraduate degrees had created the biggest challenge they faced in teaching.

Calorie counting and portion control are an essential part to any diet. Unfortunately, trying to work out how much fat, proteins, carbs and sugars to eat in one sitting can get pretty complicated. This infographic from C&J Nutrition breaks down the perfect dinner equation to help you lose weight.

If you were on Facebook today, there's a pretty good chance you came across this fruit-based brain teaser. The internet is going crazy for it. What seems like a simple maths equation is actually a bit more complex than it first appears. Can you solve it?

School quizzes occasionally contain a puzzle so fiendish that it even stumps intelligent adults. (Teachers have to get their kicks somehow, y'know.) The above brain-teaser recently appeared on an elementary school entrance exam in Hong Kong and quickly went viral. How long will it take you to solve it?