Hi Leigh, These are the kind of documentaries I adore.
This one deserves the design of a special Math resource, lets see if some of the WE Math Gurus takes the initiative. Cheers Gladys Gahona http://www.wikieducator.org/User:Chela5808 On 4 ene, 21:38, "Leigh Blackall" <[email protected]> wrote: > I hope you add this to the Math's text: > > the drama and humour of > numbers<http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2009/01/drama-and-humour-of-numbers.html> > > By Bill Kerr > The Story of > 1<http://www.videosift.com/video/The-Story-Of-One-Terry-Jones-BBC-numbe...>(60 > minutes) > > I just saw this excellent TV show about the history of numbers (ABC > review<http://www.abc.net.au/tv/guide/netw/200901/programs/ZY8042A001D101200...>) > and, for joy, it's available on the internet too :-) > > Some Australian aboriginal tribes did not have a number system, just one and > many. Arithmetic evolved in cities which had more complexity which required > calculations. The first writing was with numbers. > > 3000 BC: The Egyptians conceived of 1 million. Also they invented the cubit, > a unit of measurement, required for the buildings they constructed > > Pythagoras invented odd and even numbers, things such as magic triangles (1, > 2, 3, 4) and explored the relationship between music and the size of > containers (the music of the spheres). But his dogmatic idealism about > number led to tragedy. One of his disciples discovered irrational numbers > and was drowned. > > The Romans murdered Archimedes and then imposed their crummy numerals onto > the world. They were so useless for doing calculations that the abacus was > used instead. > > Our decimal system and most notably the number zero wasn't thought of until > 500 AD by someone in India. From there it was passed onto the Arabic Muslim > world. Then the decimal system was brought to Europe by Fibonacci. > > There ensued a struggle between the Roman numerals and the decimals system > which lasted for hundreds of years. Eventually the decimal system won out > because of the need for capitalism to calculate compound interest > accurately. > > Finally, Liebnitz invented the binary system but we had to wait another 200 > years for the computer > > This video is very enlightening and funny being narrated by Terry Jones of > Monty Python fame. The simulated battles between our modern sprightly > numbers and clunky Roman numerals are fabulous. > > > > On Sat, Jan 3, 2009 at 8:48 AM, Randy Fisher <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hi Gladys, > > > Yes, you're right. > > > I think that it's a good idea for this stage in our development. > > > In future, it might be more appropriate to have it linked from the main > > content page....but to a certain degree, we are in the process of > > 'educating' folks within, new, and visiting our community. > > > - Randy > > > On Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 4:25 PM, Gladys Gahona <[email protected]>wrote: > > >> I think one way to quickly find the WikiEducator Glossary ( > >>http://www.wikieducator.org/WikiEducator/Glossary) is inserting a > >> link in the navigation side bar, so it will be permanently reachable > >> for everyone. > >> HNY > >> Gladys Gahona > >>http://www.wikieducator.org/User:Chela5808 > > > -- > > ________________ > > Randy Fisher > > Change/Transition Management; Performance, Collaboration & Engagement; > > Sustainable Communities & Organizations > > > + 1 604.684.2275 > > [email protected] > > >http://www.wikieducator.org- Member, WikiEducator Community Council > >http://www.wikieducator.org/User:Randyfisher > > > * Can You Do the Wiki-Wiki?http://www.wikieducator.org/Wiki_Wiki > > > Skype: wikirandy > > -- > -- > Leigh Blackall > +64(0)21736539 > skype - leigh_blackall > SL - Leroy > Goalposthttp://learnonline.wordpress.comhttp://www.wikieducator.org/User:Leighblackall --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "WikiEducator" group. To visit wikieducator: http://www.wikieducator.org To visit the discussion forum: http://groups.google.com/group/wikieducator To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
