What is the number 'e' and where does it come from?

e (2.718281828...), also known as Euler's number, is a critically important number in mathematics. It forms the basis of the exponential function and the natural logarithm, and like π it crops up in innumerable places (even where you wouldn't expect it).

[cheongth]

No math teacher ever explained how the value of e is derived to me in all my years of schooling.... until now

[natashalim]

Besides the accent, the way you know this is an Australian classroom is by how casually someone swears in front of the teacher

[Iron-Bridge]

Society needs more teachers like this guy. Young, smart, relatable to youth and able to convey complex subjects in a simple way.

[aplimsollpunk]

Still amazing 4 years later.

Also, that class in the background sure is engaged.
4:36 "Shut up. Shut up."
4:31"Holy shit that was fun!"
7:57" Whooaa-

[reetasingh]

This guy is just brilliant... I was speechless.
He made maths so fun and interactive, something almost no teacher does. It's not all boring formulae and stuff, this guy actually involves the class and explains stuff extremely well. Hats off!

[aidanivesdavis]

Passionate teacher:) Well done! Way to engage the class.

[kevinkasp]

The single best way of explaining "e" by anyone, anywhere. And I believe this is how the number e was originally discovered. Truly excellent teaching. These students have no idea how genuinely lucky they are. Around the world literally a billion people have learned the number e and how to use it in calculus and other maths courses, and have been using it for years with still no clue how this mystical thing came about. These kids will have no fear of using it and will totally get it's significance and be able to teach it to anyone. Bravo Eddie Woo.

[Destruction]

The students who are lucky enough to be taught by teachers like this one will find it easier to live in this world. Too bad there are very few teachers like him.

[TheMrMonk]

Dude, I'm a secondary teacher (in my second year now), you are literally my inspiration. You're now my reference point for how good a teacher I can be.

[dejanaleksic]

I love how he explained everything in only 8 minutes, my teacher was talking about this for 3 and a half hours, and nobody understood the formula, we all just memorized it... Congratulations!

[ge_song]

people like this should be famous, they actually make a difference in our life.

[alpineclimb]

Einstein's right when he said, "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough". Some people cover how shallow their understanding is by throwing jargons in class.

[musictest]

i could watch this guy teach maths all day

[tombirkland]

I love watching this teacher's lectures. And while I am not much of a mathematician, this was both crystal clear and mind blowing. So cool.

[vgernyc]

Eddie: "It's a number that exists in reality just like Pi does."
Student: Surprised Pikachu Face

[mturker]

I had a teacher like this for my first Calculus course in high school. She was brilliant and engaging and taught us the reasons behind doing things... instead of just "do them because I say so". To this day she is the reason I enjoy mathematics and get excited about learning new facets of the science. I credit her with my SAT Math jumping over 100 points inside of a single semester. The right teacher is something you just can't put a price on. Bravo, man!

[Krystaltho]

I'm in my differential equations class and I never knew where e came from. I wish my teachers in high school taught me this.

[CosmopolitanXMan]

Great explanation. Just want to add that the key principle here is *compound interests* and letting _the interests generated earlier to produce higher results_, e.g. generate interest after one semester rather than one year, generate monthly instead of semesterly, etc. This allows the principal itself to grow as the base for the next interest calculation. E.g. after 1 semester 50% (0.5) interest generates a result of (principal 1 + interest 50%) and then this result combined immediately generates a new interest; "the clock starts ticking" immediately the next day after one semester, no need to wait until one year (read: increasing the value of n). This compound interests on smaller timeframes (increased n) are resulting in dynamic base values, therefore the growth becomes *exponential: the growth is given on previous growth* .

[essp]

I remember learning that pesky limit as a formula and always wondering why it was e. This is eye-opening. I suppose this is what a mathematical epiphany feels like; it's an incredible feeling!!

[Prashik_ft]

4:36
Some guy: it's
Girl:Shut up!!