Coursera Flash Sale
40% Off Coursera Plus for 3 Months!
Grab it
Explore the historical development of mathematical number systems in this 1978 Christmas Lecture delivered by Professor Christopher Zeeman at The Royal Institution. Discover how humanity's concept of numbers has evolved from simple counting to sophisticated mathematical constructs including rational, irrational, and complex numbers. Learn about the contributions of Greek mathematicians from the fifth century B.C. through to Gauss's groundbreaking 1799 proof that all equations can be solved using complex numbers. Experience mathematical concepts through practical demonstrations, simple proofs, and visual aids including a giant calculator, as Zeeman illustrates why different types of numbers were developed and how they solve real-world problems. Understand the progression from numbers used for measuring the physical world to complex numbers used for solving abstract equations, all presented in the accessible style that made this the first mathematics-focused Christmas Lecture series in the Royal Institution's 149-year history at that time.
