Explore the fascinating world of mathematical paradoxes, impossibilities, and mind-bending concepts in this comprehensive TED-Ed video series. Delve into topics ranging from perpetual motion machines and Newton's three-body problem to the Infinite Hotel Paradox and exponential growth. Discover the history of banned numbers, unravel the mathematics behind sidewalk illusions, and ponder Zeno's Dichotomy Paradox. Examine the unexpected math in Van Gogh's "Starry Night," contemplate the concept of infinity, and venture into other dimensions. Learn about airline overbooking strategies, the physics of "impossible" free kicks in football, and the mystery of missing fractals. Conclude with an exploration of Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem, a paradox at the heart of mathematics.
Overview
Syllabus
Why don't perpetual motion machines ever work? - Netta Schramm.
Newton’s three-body problem explained - Fabio Pacucci.
The Infinite Hotel Paradox - Jeff Dekofsky.
Exponential Growth: How Folding Paper Can Get You to the Moon.
A brief history of banned numbers - Alessandra King.
The mathematics of sidewalk illusions - Fumiko Futamura.
What is Zeno's Dichotomy Paradox? - Colm Kelleher.
The unexpected math behind Van Gogh's "Starry Night" - Natalya St. Clair.
How big is infinity? - Dennis Wildfogel.
Exploring other dimensions - Alex Rosenthal and George Zaidan.
Why do airlines sell too many tickets? - Nina Klietsch.
Football physics: The "impossible" free kick - Erez Garty.
The case of the missing fractals - Alex Rosenthal and George Zaidan.
The paradox at the heart of mathematics: Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem - Marcus du Sautoy.
Taught by
TED-Ed
