Mathematics
The Fast Fourier Transform (FFT)
Quick fact
The FFT reduces the number of operations needed for a 1,024-point Fourier transform from about a million down to roughly ten thousand — a 100x speedup that grows even larger with more data.
Why this is interesting
Every time you listen to a song, view a CT scan, or use a smartphone camera, a clever mathematical trick runs thousands of times per second. Why is it called 'fast' — and what exactly does it speed up?