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

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!

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.

6.9

Beautiful Young Minds

Oct 1, 2007

This BAFTA nominated documentary tells the story of some of the brightest mathematical brains of a generation. Each year, exceptionally gifted teenagers from over 90 countries compete for medals at the International Mathematical Olympiad. The film follows a group of brilliant teenagers as they battle it out to become the chosen six selected to represent the UK.

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.

7.0

Albert Einstein: l'homme et le génie

Dec 26, 2015

No overview available.

0.0

The Standard Deviants: The Dangerous World of Pre-Calculus, Part 1

Jan 1, 1996

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO ACE PRE-CALCULUS IS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS: functions, polynomials, f(x), RATIONAL FUNCTIONS, standard form for rational functions, disguised rational functions, multiplying rational functions, FOIL (review), dividing rational functions, invert & multiply, compound fractions, adding rational functions, common denominators, subtracting rational functions, all four operations together, graphing rational functions, discontinuities, removable singularity, vertical asymptotes, horizontal asymptotes, finding asymptotes, finding roots, word problems, SYSTEMS OF LINEAR EQUATIONS, solving graphically, algebraic substitution, algebraic elimination, SYSTEMS OF INEQUALITIES, inequality basics, graphing linear inequalities, SYSTEMS OF EQUATIONS WITH MORE THAN TWO VARIABLES

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 Candy-Coated World of Calculus, Part 2

Oct 20, 1998

Revised 1998 version. When you're ready to tackle advanced calculus, The Standard Deviants are ready to help! Part 2 covers applications of the derivative, antiderivatives and the definite integral. By combining a relaxed and enjoyable format with computer graphics and animation, the Standard Deviants enhance understanding and increase retention of difficult subjects. The key to a better grade in calculus is only a play button away.

0.0

The Standard Deviants: The Candy-Coated World of Calculus, Part 1

Oct 20, 1998

Revised 1998 version. Beginning with a review of functions and graphing, Part 1 jumps into the world of calculus by covering limits, vertical and horizontal asymptote, slopes and derivatives. The Standard Deviants take students by the hand and walk them through the most difficult topics with a relaxed and approachable format, step-by-step illustrations and plenty of examples.

6.9

UFO

Sep 4, 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.

7.1

Pi

Jul 10, 1998

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

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.

7.7

Clouds Are Not Spheres

Jan 1, 2010

Until recently geometry was 'cold', incapable of describing the irregular shape of a cloud, the slope of a mountain or the beauty of the human body. With fractal geometry, Benoit Mandelbrot gave us a language for our natural world. In this captivating documentary, the man himself explains this groundbreaking discovery.

7.5

Magic Money: The Bitcoin Revolution

Jan 25, 2017

What is Bitcoin? With the advent of Bitcoin, the world's first digital currency, for the first time in history money is no longer controlled by banks or governments, but by the people who use it. But where did this currency come from? How does it work? And is it truly the way forward, or just a flash in the pan? Magic Money answers these questions and more as it explores the mysterious origins of Bitcoin, its role in society, and how it could shape the future.

0.0

The Beauty and Complexity of the Mandelbrot Set

Jan 1, 1989

A video by doctor John Hubbard discussing the origin, characteristics, and applications of the Mandelbrot set and other iterative sets.

5.0

Achieving the Unachievable

Sep 1, 2007

M.C. Escher is among the most intriguing of artists. In 1956 he challenged the laws of perspective with his graphic Print Gallery and his uncompleted master-piece quickly became the most puzzling enigma of modern art. Fifty years later, can mathematician Hendrik Lenstra complete it? Should he?

7.5

The Genius of George Boole

Sep 1, 2015

Narrated by Oscar-winning actor Jeremy Irons, The Genius of George Boole assembles academics and industry leaders from across the globe to explore the life and importance of one of the world’s greatest unsung heroes.

0.0

The Standard Deviants: The Dangerous World of Pre-Calculus, Part 2

Jan 1, 1996

This edition includes topics such as exponential functions, common log or base 10, rules of exponents, natural log or base e, applications of exponents, rules of logs, logarithms, solving log equations and converting logs to base 10 or base e.