Pythagoras' theorem (a) | Math History | NJ Wildberger
Why Hacker News recommends it
Recommended as an easy-to-follow math history course that gives perspective on the subject.
What it is
The first lecture of N J Wildberger's History of Mathematics course, starting with Pythagoras' theorem and following Stillwell's text. It emphasizes the flow of ideas over proofs.
Recommended by 6 HN commenters across 6 different months, 2014 to 2024.
What Hacker News said
Strong rec ryneandal · 2023-08 · on “Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately?”
Highly recommend his History of Mathematics lectures on YouTube, if you are interested in that sort of thing: [this video]
Recommends askar_yu · 2014-09 · on “Al-Jazari”
slightly OT, but I've enjoyed N J Wildberger's lectures on History of Math: [this video] It's a good coverage of fundamental theorems in Math with well balanced historical touch.
Recommends PhillyPhuture · 2016-12 · on “Do Teachers Need to Include the History of Mathematics in Their Teaching? (2003)”
I think I recall reading a different version from Leibniz's POV (sp). I have always liked these videos: [this video]
Recommends AareyBaba · 2020-02 · on “A Map of Mathematics”
This is a much more entertaining map of mathematics in about 10 minutes [LINK] For a history of mathematics NJ Wildberger's lectures are easy to listen to. [this video]
Recommends chadcmulligan · 2020-05 · on “Ask HN: How to Study Mathematics?”
Maybe some history of mathematics, to give you some perspective on it all? Something I wish I'd known when I did my degree, Norman Wildberger has a great course: [this video] Visual Group Theory, by Nathan Carter is a book you can get something from no matter your level of maths, imho. If you know some linear algebra, Gilbert Strang's course on YouTube may be interesting - [LINK]
Recommends mbivert · 2024-08 · on “Galois Theory”
> I'd be interested in any recommendations for math history tomes like that. Not a book, but FWIW, I've enjoyed a few videos from Norman Wildberger's "Math History" playlist[0]. Interestingly, he has a unconventional view of infinite processes in mathematics, a point of view that used to be common about a century ago or so. I'm sure knowing some amount of history is useful, but there must be a limit to how much of it is practically useful though. [this video]