Nemean

Nemean is a small channel about algebra, combinatorics and theoretical computer science. It has only a handful of videos, but they are carefully made and widely watched.

The videos explain clever algorithms and mathematical ideas using animations. Topics include fast ways to multiply numbers, a famous shortcut used in a 1990s video game, and an introduction to group theory. Each video builds the idea up step by step. The channel has not posted since December 2024. The animations make abstract ideas easier to picture, and the videos explain why a method works rather than just how to use it. Some of the ideas came from students and amateurs, which is encouraging for young viewers.

Some highlights include:

An explanation of the fast inverse square root trick used in the game Quake III to speed up 3D graphics.

The story of how a Russian student found a faster way to multiply large numbers, and how it works.

An introduction to group theory, the maths of symmetry, which turns up across physics and computing.

The channel has around 122,000 subscribers.

Nemean is a good way into computer science and software engineering. It shows how a clever idea can make a program run much faster, which matters in games, graphics and large computer systems. It suits students taking A level Maths or Computer Science who are curious about algorithms.