16 episodes

Since the dawn of civilisation, humans have used everyday materials to create mathematical models of the world around them. This album explores the ancient Greeks' astrolabe as a model of the skies; the sundial, to tell the time; Babylonian clay tablets to record wages and trading of sheep; wooden tallies for bulk-buying beer, the Incas' use of knots and string, and the sophisticated number-engine invented by Charles Babbage. This material forms part of The Open University course MST121 Using mathematics.

Mathematical models: from sundials to number engines - for iPod/iPhone The Open University

    • Education
    • 4.3 • 9 Ratings

Since the dawn of civilisation, humans have used everyday materials to create mathematical models of the world around them. This album explores the ancient Greeks' astrolabe as a model of the skies; the sundial, to tell the time; Babylonian clay tablets to record wages and trading of sheep; wooden tallies for bulk-buying beer, the Incas' use of knots and string, and the sophisticated number-engine invented by Charles Babbage. This material forms part of The Open University course MST121 Using mathematics.

    Mathematical models: from sundials to number engines

    Mathematical models: from sundials to number engines

    A short introduction to this album.

    • 50 sec
    Transcript -- Mathematical models: from sundials to number engines

    Transcript -- Mathematical models: from sundials to number engines

    A short introduction to this album.

    • video
    The sundial as a mathematical model

    The sundial as a mathematical model

    An ancient mathematical tool to measure the daily and annual cycles of the earth around the sun.

    • 1 min
    Transcript -- The sundial as a mathematical model

    Transcript -- The sundial as a mathematical model

    An ancient mathematical tool to measure the daily and annual cycles of the earth around the sun.

    • video
    Reading the sky with the astrolabe

    Reading the sky with the astrolabe

    How the Greeks invented a two dimensional astrolabe as a conceptual model of the cosmos, and how it was used.

    • 2 min
    Transcript -- Reading the sky with the astrolabe

    Transcript -- Reading the sky with the astrolabe

    How the Greeks invented a two dimensional astrolabe as a conceptual model of the cosmos, and how it was used.

Customer Reviews

4.3 out of 5
9 Ratings

9 Ratings

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