Category: Math History
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Euler's Number Explained in 30 seconds
Euler’s Number e Overview Applications Properties Overview The mathematical constant e is the base of the natural logarithm, a fundamental logarithmic function. It is also known as Euler’s number, named after the mathematician Leonhard Euler, who extensively studied this constant. e ≈ 2.71828 Applications The constant e is used in many read more
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Zeno’s Dichotomy Paradox Explained
Imagine you are about to clap your hands. But think about what has to happen first. Your right hand has to travel half the distance to your left. Then half of what remains. Then half again. And again. And again. This is an infinite number of steps. And infinity is not just “a lot.” Here, read more
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Every Weird Math Paradox Explained
The Hairy Ball Theorem The Dichotomy Paradox The Birthday Problem Gabriel’s Horn The Elevator Paradox The St. Petersburg Paradox Hilbert’s Hotel Russell’s Paradox The Banach-Tarski Paradox The Hairy Ball Theorem Hairy Ball Theorem. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Imagine a ball covered in hair, like a fuzzy tennis ball. The hairy read more
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The Greatest Accidental Math Breakthroughs
Non-Euclidean Geometry Napier’s Logarithms Fourier’s Mistake About Heat Newton and Calculus Euler and the Constant e from Finance Henri Poincaré and Chaos Theory Gauss and the Normal Curve Non-Euclidean Geometry For more than two millennia, Euclidean geometry stood as an unquestioned paradigm of physical space. Its fifth postulate, the parallel postulate, read more
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Pi Explained in 30 seconds π
Pi (π) is a fundamental mathematical constant that represents the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. It was first calculated by the ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes. Origin of the Symbol Discovery Applications Properties Origin of the Symbol The Greek letter π (pi) is the first letter of the Greek read more
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Every Math Problem that Made Someone Famous (pt. 2)
Leonard Euler – Euler’s identity Rudolf Clausius – Second Law of Thermodynamics Marie Curie – Law of Radioactive Decay Daniel Bernoulli – Bernoulli’s Equation Ludwig Boltzmann – Entropy Equation James Juul – first law of thermodynamics Georg Ohm – Ohm’s law Johannes Kepler – Third Law of Planetary Motion Gaspard Gustave read more
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Greatest Mathematicians and their Discoveries – Part 1
You will see some of the famous and greatest mathematicians from 500 BC to the 21st century. Let’s dive into the lives and groundbreaking discoveries of legendary mathematicians who shaped the world with their innovative ideas. Pythagoras Euclid Archimedes Leonardo Fibonacci René Descartes Blaise Pascal Isaac Newton Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Benjamin read more
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Every Logic Paradox Created by Mathematicians Explained
The Ring of Gyges by Plato The Hines dilemma The paradox of the ravens The liar paradox The Barber paradox Timestamps: The Ring of Gyges by Plato The Ring of Gyges is a thought experiment from Plato’s book, The Republic, written in 380 BC. This story tackles what happens to morality read more
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