Mathematical models: from sundials to number engines - for iPod/iPhone
16 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 14 years ago - ★★★★ - 9 ratingsSince 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.
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Episodes
Mathematical models: from sundials to number engines
March 26, 2010 05:03 - 50 seconds - 816 KBA short introduction to this album.
Transcript -- Mathematical models: from sundials to number engines
March 26, 2010 05:03 - 18.4 KB application/pdfTranscript -- A short introduction to this album.
The sundial as a mathematical model
March 26, 2010 05:02 - 1 minute - 8.06 MB VideoAn ancient mathematical tool to measure the daily and annual cycles of the earth around the sun.
Transcript -- The sundial as a mathematical model
March 26, 2010 05:02 - 19.4 KB application/pdfTranscript -- An ancient mathematical tool to measure the daily and annual cycles of the earth around the sun.
Reading the sky with the astrolabe
March 26, 2010 05:01 - 2 minutes - 14.4 MB VideoHow the Greeks invented a two dimensional astrolabe as a conceptual model of the cosmos, and how it was used.
Transcript -- Reading the sky with the astrolabe
March 26, 2010 05:01 - 21.9 KB application/pdfTranscript -- How the Greeks invented a two dimensional astrolabe as a conceptual model of the cosmos, and how it was used.
Recording sales in clay tablets
March 26, 2010 05:00 - 2 minutes - 11.8 MB VideoClay tokens, an ancient system used to record goods changing hands.
Transcript -- Recording sales in clay tablets
March 26, 2010 05:00 - 21.9 KB application/pdfTranscript -- Clay tokens, an ancient system used to record goods changing hands.
Incas and their knots
March 26, 2010 04:59 - 1 minute - 6.71 MB VideoHow South American Incas kept records by the use of knots.
Transcript -- Incas and their knots
March 26, 2010 04:59 - 19.7 KB application/pdfTranscript -- How South American Incas kept records by the use of knots.
Wooden tallies for buying beer
March 26, 2010 04:58 - 1 minute - 6.41 MB VideoHow wholesale beer sales were recorded using notches on wooden tallies.
Transcript -- Wooden tallies for buying beer
March 26, 2010 04:58 - 19.1 KB application/pdfTranscript -- How wholesale beer sales were recorded using notches on wooden tallies.
John Napier's mathematical creations
March 26, 2010 04:57 - 3 minutes - 15.7 MB VideoJohn Napier's method of multiplication and logarithms, and how Charles Babbage corrected his calculations.
Transcript -- John Napier's mathematical creations
March 26, 2010 04:57 - 21.7 KB application/pdfTranscript -- John Napier's method of multiplication and logarithms, and how Charles Babbage corrected his calculations.
Babbage's engine of precision
March 26, 2010 04:56 - 2 minutes - 10.7 MB VideoCharles Babbage's ingenious mechanical device to compute mathematical equations.
Transcript -- Babbage's engine of precision
March 26, 2010 04:56 - 20.3 KB application/pdfTranscript -- Charles Babbage's ingenious mechanical device to compute mathematical equations.