The Rogers-Ramanujan Identities and the Icosahedron - Lecture 4

Explore the fascinating connections between the Rogers-Ramanujan identities and the icosahedron in this fourth lecture of a series by Don Zagier from Max Planck/ICTP. Delve into the beautiful and unexpected relationship between these century-old mathematical formulas and the geometry of Platonic solids. Discover how the number "5" links these seemingly disparate concepts, and uncover the intricate web of mathematical topics that connect them, including number theory, modular forms, combinatorics, continued fractions, conformal field theory, and mirror symmetry. Gain insights into the wide-ranging applications of these concepts, from pure mathematics to theoretical physics, in this accessible and engaging lecture suitable for mathematicians of all levels and backgrounds.