Explained Visually is a set of hands-on explainers for topics that usually arrive as dense equations. You get interactive diagrams for ideas like Markov chains, ordinary least squares and eigenvectors, and you learn by dragging and watching the result change.
The maths comes alive when you can push it around. Move a point and see the regression line shift, or change a probability and watch the chain settle. The explanations are short and tied to the visuals.
It was made by Victor Powell and Lewis Lehe. It works on phones and desktops, and it is ideal for people who learn by poking things. Related: /site/bartosz-ciechanowski, /site/explorable-explanations and /category/oddly-educational. Plan on plenty of time, since it is a genuine rabbit hole. It works on phones.
Tips for getting the most out of it
- Drag everything; the diagrams are meant to be pushed.
- Read the short text alongside the visuals.
- Start with the topic you half-remember from school.
Questions about Explained Visually
What is Explained Visually?
Explained Visually is a collection of interactive explainers for technical topics such as Markov chains and eigenvectors. Plan on plenty of time, since it is a genuine rabbit hole. It works on phones. You can find it at setosa.io, and we check the link daily.
Who made Explained Visually?
It was made by Victor Powell and Lewis Lehe. Plan on plenty of time, since it is a genuine rabbit hole. It works on phones. You can find it at setosa.io, and we check the link daily.
Sites like Explained Visually
The Wisdom and/or Madness of Crowds
A playable guide to how ideas and behaviour spread through crowds.
- Rabbit hole
- Alive · checked 15 days ago
Parable of the Polygons
A playable post on how small biases build segregated societies.
- 5 minutes
- Alive · checked 15 days ago
To Build a Better Ballot
An interactive guide to voting systems and why they matter.
- 5 minutes
- Alive · checked 15 days ago
Gapminder Tools
Animated bubble charts that bust myths about the world.
- Rabbit hole
- Works on phones
- Alive · checked 15 days ago
Bartosz Ciechanowski's Interactive Explainers
Long, gorgeous interactive essays on how things work.
- Rabbit hole
- Works on phones
- Alive · checked 15 days ago
The Evolution of Trust
A playable explainer on why we trust each other, with game theory.
- Rabbit hole
- Alive · checked 15 days ago