5 episodes
Mathematics: Making the Invisible Visible Stanford Continuing Studies
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4.7 • 41 Ratings
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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.
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
Customer Reviews
Math with context!!!
As a creative, math has always seemed familiar but just out of reach. The way this is story told in the context of history makes so much sense. Math is an invention! Love this sm thank you
Only one complaint...
... the course is too short. We are given a brief look at how mathematics was "developed" and insights into some of it's branches. It would be interesting to see more of the history in future lectures. Also, I will forever refer to Fibonacci as Leonardo Pisano filius Bonacci from this point forward. :)