DC Public Library System

The joy of thinking, the beauty and power of classical mathematical ideas, the Teaching Company

Label
The joy of thinking, the beauty and power of classical mathematical ideas, the Teaching Company
Language
eng
Characteristic
videorecording
Main title
The joy of thinking
Oclc number
54070484
Responsibility statement
the Teaching Company
Runtime
720
Series statement
Great courses, Science & mathematics
Sub title
the beauty and power of classical mathematical ideas
Summary
The world of mathematics contains some of the greatest ideas of humankind--ideas comparable to the works of Shakespeare, Plato, and Michelangelo. These mathematical ideas can add texture, beauty, and wonder to your life, without being a mathematician! This course explores the fourth dimension, coincidences, fractals, aesthetics, the allure of number, geometry, and how great mathematical ideas arise, along with learning to think abstractly, to grasp insightful strategies for approaching, enjoying, and understanding the world--not what is traditionally thought of as mathematics
Table Of Contents
Disc 1: Part 1. Lecture 1. Great ideas that bring our world into focus ; Lecture 2. How many? Counting surprises ; Lecture 3. Fermat's last theorem and the allure of number ; Lecture 4. Pining for nature's numbers ; Lecture 5. Sizing up the Fibonacci numbers ; Lecture 6. The sexiest rectangleDisc 2: Part 1. Lecture 7. Hidden beauty of the golden rectangle ; Lecture 8. Pythagorean theorem and geometry of ellipses ; Lecture 9. Not-so-Platonic relationships in Platonic solids ; Lecture 10. Hunting for a sixth Platonic solid ; Lecture 11. Is there a fourth dimension? Can we see it? ; Lecture 12. The invisible art of the fourth dimensionDisc 3: Part 2. Lecture 13. A twisted idea: The Möbius band ; Lecture 14. A one-sided, sealed surface: The Klein bottle ; Lecture 15. Ordinary origami: Creating beautiful patterns ; Lecture 16. Unfolding paper to reveal a fiery fractal ; Lecture 17. Fractals: Infinitely complex creations ; Lecture 18. Fractal frauds of natureDisc 4: Part 2. Lecture 19. Chance surprises: Measuring uncertainty ; Lecture 20. Door number two or door number three? ; Lecture 21. Great expectations: Weighing the uncertain future ; Lecture 22. Random thoughts: Randomness in our world ; Lecture 23. How surprising are surprising coincidences? ; Lecture 24. Life lessons learned from mathematical thinking
Technique
live action
resource.variantTitle
Beauty and power of classical mathematical ideas
Classification
Mapped to