Available online
Description
Graham Flegg (Reader, O.U.) and Jeremy Gray (O.U. ) review the whole course in this final programme. They approach the history of mathematics in an evolutionary way, along the lines of Wilder's s...et book. Attention is drawn to internal and external stresses; consolidation, and diffusion at particular moments in the development of mathematics as a culture.
Graham Flegg (Reader, O.U.) and Jeremy Gray (O.U. ) review the whole course in this final programme. They approach the history of mathematics in an evolutionary way, along the lines of Wilder's s...et book. Attention is drawn to internal and external stresses; consolidation, and diffusion at particular moments in the development of mathematics as a culture.
| Module code and title: | AM289, History of mathematics |
|---|---|
| Item code: | AM289; 11 |
| First transmission date: | 10-10-1976 |
| Published: | 1976 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:24:00 |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | Robert Clamp |
| Contributors: | Graham Flegg; Jeremy Gray |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | Calculus; Cyphers; Geometry |
| Footage description: | Graham Flegg introduces the programme. Intercut from TV 1 showing Prof Van der Waerden calculating 12 times 12. Animations showing Babylonian and Egyptian cyphers. Stills from course units. Commentary by Graham Flegg explains possible reasons for the differences in amount of cypherisation found in Babylonian, Egyptian and Greek numbering systems. Jeremy Gray discusses the transformation of Greek mathematics into a systematised, deductive body of geometry. Model of a dodecahedron, several geometrical figures and some animations are used to illustrate points. Intercut from TV 3 features Prof. Van der Waerden dismantling a cone to show various conic sections. Graham Flegg gives a brief history of the development, in Europe, of mathematics to the 16th century. Intercut from TV 4 (Van der Waerden on Al'Khwarizmi) stills from course units, stills of paintings and further intercuts from TV 5 and TV 6 (particularly on standardisation of mathematical notation) are used to illustrate points made. Graham Flegg and then Jeremy Gray review the progress of European mathematics during the 17th century - particularly the treatment of indivisibles and infinitesimals leading to the calculus. The impact of mathematics on science at this time is briefly taken up. Stills from course units, animations and a quote from Bishop Berkeley. Graham Flegg briefly reviews the 19th century history of two mathematical topics - infinite set and non-commutative algebras. Intercut from TV 10 features Clive Kilmister discussing Georg Cantor's work on infinite sets. Intercut from TV 9 features Prof. O'Connell describing Hamilton's work on quaternions. Jeremy Gray describes the development of non-Euclidean geometries in the 19th century. He uses a globe and animations of a pseudosphere and Riemanian spaces to amplify his points. Graham Flegg sums up the programme. Intercut from TV 8 features Prof. Kline talking about the consequences of non-commutative algebras and non-Euclidean geometries on mathematics. |
| Master spool number: | 6HT/72161 |
| Production number: | 00525_3185 |
| Videofinder number: | 946 |
| Available to public: | no |
