The nature and beauty of mathematics

What it covers

This unit is intended for students with little or no mathematical background. Through the discussion of historical, practical and conceptual questions, it will emphasise the beauty and the power of mathematics. The number of topics covered will be very broad. These will include, amongst many others: • Symmetry (regular solids, tilings, Escher, ruler-and-compass, origami) • Fibonacci numbers and Golden Ratio • Optimal design (soap bubble maths, minimal networks) • Mathematical soul capturing (the maths of juggling and lacing shoes) • Visualising the 4th dimension • The shape of space (Mobius bands, Klein bottles, "pacman" spaces) • Infinity.

Assessment

When and where