The restaurant problem reveals why human shortcuts can work surprisingly well.

A dribble and a jump shot, followed by a fractions task. That is what physical education classes looked like for a group of pupils, and the pupils not only found the lessons more engaging than usual—they also became better at mathematics with a basketball in their hands, according to a new study from the University of Copenhagen.

How do children learn math? It's shaped by what they know as well as their motivation and engagement. Historically, research on children's math learning has been focused on parents' cognitive practices (such as math talk—informal conversations that involve math), however emerging evidence shows how parents' motivational practices (encouraging independence and helping children enjoy math) may also play a critical role in their math abilities.

From June 11, countless millions of people will be following the football World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. They will discuss their team's performance, talk like experts about tactics and formations, and cower behind the sofa during penalty shootouts. But a lot of what comes across as gut instinct and long-established football wisdom can now be verified with the help of data.