5 episodes

Often described as the science of patterns, mathematics is arguably humanity’s most penetrating mental framework for uncovering the hidden patterns that lie behind everything we see, feel, and experience. Galileo described mathematics as the language in which the laws of the universe are written. Intended to give a broad overview of the field, these five illustrated lectures look at counting and arithmetic, shape and geometry, motion and calculus, and chance and probability, and end with a mind-stretching trip to infinity.

Mathematics: Making the Invisible Visible Stanford Continuing Studies

- Education

- 15 NOV 2012
- video
5. How Did Human Beings Acquire the Ability to do Mathematics? (October 29, 2012)

5. How Did Human Beings Acquire the Ability to do Mathematics? (October 29, 2012)

Keith Devlin concludes the course by discussing the development of mathematical cognition in humans as well as the millennium problems. (October 29, 2012)
- 30 OCT 2012
- video
4. Calculus: One of the Most Successful Technologies of All Time (October 22, 2012)

4. Calculus: One of the Most Successful Technologies of All Time (October 22, 2012)

Professor Keith Devlin discusses how calculus is truly one of the most useful discoveries of all time. (October 22, 2012)
- 24 OCT 2012
- video
3. The Birth of Algebra (October 15, 2012)

3. The Birth of Algebra (October 15, 2012)

Professor Keith Devlin looks at how algebra, one of the most foundational concepts in math, was discovered. (October 15, 2012)
- 24 OCT 2012
- video
2. The Golden Ratio & Fibonacci Numbers: Fact versus Fiction (October 8, 2012)

2. The Golden Ratio & Fibonacci Numbers: Fact versus Fiction (October 8, 2012)

Professor Keith Devlin dives into the topics of the golden ratio and fibonacci numbers. (October 8, 2012)
- 24 OCT 2012
- video
1. General Overview and the Development of Numbers (September 26, 2012)

1. General Overview and the Development of Numbers (September 26, 2012)

Keith Devlin gives an overview of the history of mathematics. He discusses how it has evolved over time and explores many of its practical applications in the world. (October 1, 2012)