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What does mathematics have to do with nature or art? The video tracks in this album trace the origin of the mathematics of chaos and describe how the chance discovery of fractals became the basis for some real - and revolutionary - commercial applications such as the fax and the modem. A closer look at ancient fabric designs and the spiral of a nautilus shell also reveals repeating patterns that can be analysed in a mathematical way. This material forms part of The Open University course MS221 Exploring mathematics.
Track 6: Visualising a conic
The mathematics behind the curves created with a torch beam
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Tracks in this podcast:
| Track | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maths in Nature and Art | A short introduction to the content of this album. Play now Maths in Nature and Art |
| 2 | Spirals in nature | An introduction to a primitive mollusc, a triumph of natural engineering. Play now Spirals in nature |
| 3 | How to create a spiral | Ways of creating a mathematical spiral. Play now How to create a spiral |
| 4 | Manufacturing patterns | Using computers to design carpets. Play now Manufacturing patterns |
| 5 | How a sundial works | Using the shadow’s path to register the passing of time. Play now How a sundial works |
| 6 | Visualising a conic | The mathematics behind the curves created with a torch beam Play now Visualising a conic |
| 7 | Slicing cones | Algebraic systems to represent slices of cones. Play now Slicing cones |
| 8 | Where art meets maths | How repeating motifs in fabric designs are made up of four isometric transformations. Play now Where art meets maths |
| 9 | The last universalist | An introduction to Henri Poincare and his efforts to prove the mathematical stability of the solar system. Play now The last universalist |
| 10 | A chaotic universe | A mistake in calculations leads to a revolutionary discovery. Play now A chaotic universe |
| 11 | The power of computers | The benefit of using a computer for iteration calculations. Play now The power of computers |
| 12 | The lure of fractal images | Mathematicians have been fascinated with creating fractal patterns on a computer. Play now The lure of fractal images |
| 13 | Natural mathematics | How close examination of a fern reveals the geometry of fractals. Play now Natural mathematics |
| 14 | The practical application of fractals | Exploiting fractals for commercial purposes. Play now The practical application of fractals |
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