NOVA: The Great Math Mystery

Apr 15, 2015

0h 54m

★ 7.8

Overview

NOVA leads viewers on a mathematical mystery tour -- a provocative exploration of math's astonishing power across the centuries. We discover math's signature in the swirl of a nautilus shell, the whirlpool of a galaxy and the spiral in the center of a sunflower. Math was essential to everything from the first wireless radio transmissions to the prediction and discovery of the Higgs boson and the successful landing of rovers on Mars. But where does math get its power? Astrophysicist and writer Mario Livio, along with a colorful cast of mathematicians, physicists and engineers, follows math from Pythagoras to Einstein and beyond, all leading to the ultimate riddle: Is math an invention or a discovery? Humankind's clever trick or the language of the universe?

Genres

Documentary

History

Mystery

Production Companies

GBH

NOVA: The Great Math Mystery Trailers

No Trailers found.

Cast

Narrator (voice)

Jay O. Sanders

Actor

Glenn Kalison

Self

Max Tegmark

Self

Esperanza Spalding

Self

Sylvester James Gates

Self

Adam Steltzner

Self

Janna Levin

Self

Simon Schaffer

Self

Savas Dimopoulos

Self

Roger Penrose

Self

Stephen Wolfram

The future of Marguerite, a brilliant student in Mathematics at the prestigious Ecole Normale Supérieure, seems all planned out. The only woman from her year, Marguerite is finishing a thesis she has to present to an audience of researchers. On the big day, a mistake shakes all her certainties and all her foundations collapse.

6.3

Proof

Sep 5, 2005

Catherine is a woman in her late twenties who is strongly devoted to her father, Robert, a brilliant and well-known mathematician whose grip on reality is beginning to slip away. As Robert descends into madness, Catherine begins to wonder if she may have inherited her father's mental illness along with his mathematical genius.

6.0

The Oxford Murders

Jan 18, 2008

At Oxford University, a professor and a grad student work together to try and stop a potential series of murders seemingly linked by mathematical symbols.

5.5

Cube 2: Hypercube

Apr 15, 2002

Eight strangers awaken with no memory, in a puzzling cube-shaped room where the laws of physics do not always apply.

5.7

Cube Zero

Oct 10, 2004

A young programmer whose job is to watch over the reality-warping Cube defies orders to rescue an innocent mother trapped in one of its rooms.

6.8

Cube

Jul 11, 1998

A group of strangers find themselves trapped in a maze-like prison. It soon becomes clear that each of them possesses the peculiar skills necessary to escape, if they don't wind up dead first.

7.1

Pi

Jul 10, 1998

A mathematical genius discovers a link between numbers and reality, and thus believes he can predict the future.

0.0

The Standard Deviants: The Pumped-Up World of Pre-Algebra, Part 1

Jun 18, 2002

With all those X's and Y's, pre-algebra can be very intimidating. But with the right preparation, pre-algebra is as easy as 1-2-3! Building on your knowledge of basic math, The Standard Deviants eliminate the intimidation factor by presenting the material in an easy-to-understand manner using plenty of examples and computer graphics.

0.0

The Standard Deviants: The Adventurous World of College Algebra, Part 1

Jan 1, 1996

Required study by high schools and colleges, algebra has been a notorious stumbling block for students. Without a solid foundation in algebra, however, you cannot expect to do well in more advanced math and science courses, such as calculus, physics and chemistry. Suitable for students of all ages, this DVD presents the three basic principles of algebra in a clear, fun and approachable manner: functions, algebraic properties and linear equations.

0.0

The Standard Deviants: The Many-Sided World of Geometry, Part 1

Jun 18, 2002

Every year, millions of high school and college students walk into their first geometry class thinking: "Circles and squares. How tough can it be?" Then they encounter the postulates, statements and theorems! But have no fear, our simple, straightforward format will help students understand and make sense of geometry.

0.0

The Standard Deviants: The Gravity-Packed World of Physics, Parts 1&2

Sep 26, 2000

Physics is a system of models of nature according to which all phenomena are explained in terms of matter and force. Sound confusing? It doesn't have to be! Whether you need help with high school physics, need to review for a college physics class, or you're studying for the AP Physics Exam, this physics tutorial will help you understand the basics, such as Newton's Laws, the Law of Universal Gravitation, Kepler's Law and more.

0.0

The Standard Deviants: The Adventurous World of College Algebra, Part 2

Jun 8, 2004

This DVD dives into the advanced principles of Algebra. The Standard Deviants tour of the world of algebra continues with complete coverage of quadratic equations, quadratic roots and factors, and higher order polynomials. Suitable for all ages, Algebra Part 2 clearly presents these principles in a fun and approachable manner. A completely stand-alone video! Part 1 is not required.

0.0

Standard Deviants School: Trigonometry, Module 1 - The Basics

Sep 16, 2008

The Standard Deviants serve-up all sorts of useful trig vocabulary. Get your fill of degree and radian measurements, and a sampler platter of right triangle trigonometry.

0.0

The Standard Deviants: The Twisted World of Trigonometry, Part 1

Jan 20, 1997

This edition of Trigonometry includes such topics as radians, the special angles, right triangles, the Pythagorean Theorem, sine, cosine, tangent, law of cosines and law of sines.

0.0

The Standard Deviants: The Twisted World of Trigonometry, Part 2

Jan 20, 1997

Part 2 starts off with a quick review of graphing as well as sine, cosine and tangent. From there, this video charts new territory as we dive into amplitude, curves, double-angle formulas, sum-to-product-formulas and identities. Using computer graphics and animation, the Standard Deviants illustrate these complicated concepts far better than any blackboard!

6.6

Terror by Night

Feb 1, 1946

Holmes and Watson board a passenger train bound from London to Edinburgh, to guard the Star of Rhodesia, an enormous diamond worth a fortune belonging to an elderly woman of wealth; but within the first hour of the trip, the woman's son is murdered and the diamond stolen and any of the passengers in their car could be the killer thief.

6.9

UFO

Sep 27, 2018

A college student, who sees a UFO, uses his exceptional math skills to investigate the sighting with his friends while the FBI follows closely behind.

6.6

Fermat's Room

Oct 7, 2007

Four mathematicians are imprisoned in a shrinking room; with the walls closing in, they must try anything to escape this fatal puzzle.

8.0

Great Pyramid K 2019

Dec 4, 2019

Today we cut the granite with diamond-cut blade as is one of the most difficult rocks to cut due to its hardness.How could the egyptians, if it was them, have achieved those shapes in the sculpture sphinx of Sénousret made of Migmatite material, which is harder than granite? What was that extraordinary tool that made this possible? This example is what disputes all the official theories of egyptology. Dozen of questions now arise. Did the egyptians really have an advance technology that was losted over time? The answer is in this movie.Lucky is to understand that in 2019, we have a chance to learn how the Great Pyramid was built, who built it, and what its hidden behind it. Let yourself go and come discover the biggest mystery of humanity, the New Great Story!

0.0

The Standard Deviants: The Many-Sided World of Geometry, Part 2

Dec 19, 1999

Geometry Part 2 goes into detail on perimeter, circumference and area for 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional figures. This DVD is also helpful for students who need extra help understanding the Pythagorean Theorem. Difficult concepts are made crystal clear with easy-to-follow examples and graphic presentations. With the Standard Deviants by your side, you'll be calculating the surface of a sphere or the volume of a cylinder in no time!