The joy of thinking : the beauty and power of classical mathematical ideas

DVD

The joy of thinking : the beauty and power of classical mathematical ideas / the Teaching Company.

Burger, Edward B., 1963- (Added Author). Starbird, Michael. (Added Author). Stonebarger, Tamara. (Added Author). Dunton, Tom. (Added Author). Teaching Company. (Added Author).

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.

Record details

ISBN: 1565857690
ISBN: 9781565857698
ISBN: 9791565857697
Physical Description: 4 videodiscs (approximately 720 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in. + 1 course guidebook (viii, 129 pages ; 19 cm).
Publisher: Chantilly, VA : Teaching Co., ©2003.

Content descriptions

General Note:: Course guidebook includes professor biographies, statement of course scope, lecture outlines and notes, timeline, glossary, biographical notes, and bibliography.
Formatted Contents Note:: 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 rectangle.

Disc 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 dimension.

Disc 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 nature.

Disc 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.
Creation/Production Credits Note:: Producer, Tamara Stonebarger ; academic content supervisor, Ann Waigand; director, Tom Dunton ; camera, Jon Leven, Damion Smith, Tom Dooley.
Participant or Performer Note:: Twenty-four lectures of thirty minutes each by Dr. Edward B. Burger, Professor of Mathematics and Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Williams College and Michael Starbird, Professor of Mathematics and Distinguished Teaching Professor, The University of Texas at Austin.
System Details Note:: DVD.