The Great Math Mystery (2015) FULL SPECIAL | NOVA | PBS America

Explore math's astonishing power across the centuries. Join astrophysicist and writer Mario Livio to follow math from Pythagoras to Einstein and beyond, all leading to the ultimate riddle: Is math an invention or a discovery?

First Broadcast Date: June 23, 2015

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[brianmitch]

I stopped watching traditional Televison and now you tube is my permanent home thanks to productions like these

[jackevans]

I am an electronics engineer/software engineer and a musician, and as such, have always been fascinated by the maths associated with analogue and digital audio with geometry and trigonometry.

[denelson]

"Concepts are invented while relations are discovered."

You know, that description of the nature of mathematics makes the most sense to me.

[sormcmxcix]

What a gift to the world is PBS NOVA … THANK YOU

[PedroFerreira-zeyp]

PBS NOVA, it doesn't get any better than this!

[honeybunch]

Imagine all these historical math geniuses being with us today? They would be so in their element.

[manmohanmehta]

Things moved so fast leading to Relativity theory and long enigma of quantum physics.We the brave new world are unraveling it all

[iambrian]

Not A Maths Personal But Its Significance Is Exciting. Enjoying From The Caribbean 🇻🇨

[hafiz]

20:05 Yes, everything in this universe is discovered, not invented.
Like when we say Newton’s Laws of Motion, but in reality it is Newton’s DISCOVERED laws of Motion.

[NewMessage]

Someone need to make Pla-to. A modeling clay that come pre-formed in the shapes of Platonic solids.

[AdamLaw-fw]

I love Pi Apple Pie, Steak Pie, Chicken

[richardbullen]

Stop the background music it's not necessary and really distracting!

[dogwithwigwamz.]

I stick to my rule, which is `when I`m reading maths and finding it easy I`m doing something wrong !`

[hermankoopman]

There is logic, math is all around us. We discovered it. Quantum is of a different level. It has to be logic, not ghostly.

[dodgeman]

adam is an excellent engineer i loved seeing him in the perserverance rover doc

[steveyard]

We count following a base 10 system. If we counted by say a base 11 system, is there an analagous Fibronacci series ?

[genehawkridge]

Mathematics is a language we use to describe nature. It's a cultural construct. Mathematics follows nature, not vice-versa.

[Aluminata]

Why does maths work so well in nature. If you have 1 apple and +
another, you get 2 apples.
What am I missing?

[stuboyd]

This is like saying "Isn't it amazing how the words we use to describe the universe describe it so well?"

People invented the mathematical abstractions we use to measure and quantify real things in our universe. Maths is simply a useful tool we have to do this. New techniques to make it easier or more accurate, etc are discovered from time to time.

[colindean]

This was great but WHY oh WHY the irritating music all the way through? It's already interesting enough, you don't have to sugar coat it or "sex it up".