What Happens When Maths Goes Wrong? - with Matt Parker

The Royal Institution

7 Mar 201967:34

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this engaging talk, Matt Parker explores the significance of mathematical mistakes in various fields, from architecture to space exploration. Using humorous anecdotes and dramatic demonstrations, he highlights the importance of getting math right in critical situations, while also advocating for a learning approach that embraces errors as part of the process. Parker's presentation is a call to action for fostering a new generation of mathematicians who are not only skilled but also resilient in the face of complexity and challenge.

Takeaways

🎤 The speaker, Matt Parker, is a mathematics enthusiast and communicator, formerly a math teacher, who aims to promote the importance of mathematics and its role in modern society.
📚 Matt's book 'Humble Pi' discusses mathematical mistakes and their implications in various fields, from finance to engineering, emphasizing the significance of getting math right in critical situations.
🤔 The talk highlights the importance of understanding probability and statistics, showing how humans often misunderstand or misinterpret these concepts, leading to erroneous conclusions.
🌐 The speaker uses examples of ancient sites and Woolworth's stores in the UK to illustrate how patterns can be found in vast datasets, but such patterns may not necessarily indicate anything beyond random chance.
🚀 The Ariane 5 rocket explosion case study demonstrates how a simple mathematical error can lead to catastrophic consequences, emphasizing the need for robust mathematical checks in engineering and technology.
🔄 Matt's experiment with flipping a coin on its edge shows that while unlikely, extraordinary events can and do happen, given enough attempts.
🎲 The 'Grime Dice' game illustrates the concept of non-transitive probability, where no single best option exists, and the outcome depends on the choices made by the players.
🌟 The speaker encourages the audience not to be afraid of making mistakes in math, as learning and improvement come from understanding and correcting errors.
📈 The importance of mathematics in everyday life is underscored by the various examples given, from the design of coins and bridges to the operation of spacecraft.
👥 The talk is intended to inspire and engage a wide audience, including math teachers and those who might not identify as math enthusiasts, highlighting the universal appeal and relevance of mathematics.
📖 Matt Parker's work, including his books and public talks, aims to humanize mathematics, showing its value and potential for error, and encouraging more people to appreciate and engage with the subject.

Q & A

Who is the speaker of the transcript and what is his profession?
-The speaker of the transcript is Matt Parker, who used to be a maths teacher and now promotes mathematics through various platforms including YouTube videos and BBC Radio 4.
What is the title of Matt Parker's first book and what was its focus?
-Matt Parker's first book is titled 'Things to Make and Do in the Fourth Dimension', which focused on abstract mathematics and was the second most viewed video on the RI channel.
What was the inspiration behind Matt Parker's second book, 'Humble Pi'?
-The inspiration behind 'Humble Pi' was Matt Parker's favorite mathematics mistakes, aiming to showcase how maths can go wrong in various fields and to use these stories as a way to discuss the maths required for these areas of modern society.
What was the main message Matt Parker wanted to convey through his talk?
-Matt Parker wanted to convey that maths is not just about getting the right answer, but also about learning from mistakes. He emphasized the importance of maths in our society and how it is often overlooked because it usually works flawlessly.
What was the error in the design of the two-pound coin that Matt Parker discussed?
-The error in the design of the two-pound coin was that it had an odd number of cogs, which would not work in sequence as the cogs were meant to represent different stages of UK history. The designer, Bruce Russian, intended for it to be an even number of cogs, but it was altered before production.
What was the significance of the Jenga tower demonstration in Matt Parker's talk?
-The Jenga tower demonstration was used to illustrate the concept of resonance, showing how a building can resonate and potentially lead to its destruction. It was meant to visually represent the importance of considering resonance in engineering and construction.
What was the mistake in the design of the Ariane 5 rocket that led to its explosion?
-The Ariane 5 rocket exploded due to a simple mathematical error where a 64-bit number was tried to be put in a 16-bit space, causing the rocket's navigation system to crash and leading to the self-destruct sequence.
How did Matt Parker use the concept of probability in his talk?
-Matt Parker used the concept of probability to demonstrate how humans often misunderstand or misinterpret chances and randomness. He used examples like the coin flipping game and the story of people appearing in each other's photographs years before they met to illustrate the likelihood of certain events occurring by chance.
What was the main reason for the failure of the Ariane 5 rocket?
-The main reason for the failure of the Ariane 5 rocket was a software error in the navigation system. The error occurred because a sensor provided data that was too large for the allocated memory, causing the system to crash and leading to the rocket's destruction.
What was the outcome of the Ariane 5 rocket explosion for the Cluster spacecraft instruments?
-The Cluster spacecraft instruments were recovered from the crash site and returned to the Mullard Space Science Laboratory at UCL. They were rebuilt with funding from the European Space Agency and successfully relaunched within four years.
What was Matt Parker's main point about the importance of mathematics in modern society?
-Matt Parker's main point was that mathematics is crucial in modern society as it underpins many aspects of our lives, from finance to engineering. He also emphasized the need for robust systems that can handle mathematical errors and prevent them from becoming disasters.

Outlines

00:00

🎤 Introduction and Background

The speaker, Matt Parker, a former maths teacher and数学传播者, introduces himself and sets the scene for the evening's talk on mathematics. He discusses his career transition from teaching to promoting mathematics through YouTube videos and BBC Radio 4. Parker humorously addresses the audience's reaction and shares anecdotes from his experiences, leading into the main topic of the night: the importance of mathematics and its impact on various fields, despite common misconceptions about its infallibility.

05:03

📚 Book Writing and Mathematics Mistakes

Matt Parker discusses his journey in writing his second book, 'Humble Pi', focusing on mathematical errors and their implications. He shares insights into how he approached the concept of showcasing the importance of math through the lens of mistakes. Parker humorously recounts his interactions with his publisher and the rationale behind choosing such a topic, emphasizing the need to demystify the fear of getting math wrong and encouraging a learning mindset.

10:06

🤔 The Misinterpretation of Cogs and the Importance of Geometry

Parker delves into the common misinterpretation of cogs and their representation in various scenarios, such as educational posters and public transport systems. He critiques the lack of geometrical accuracy and its humorous consequences, like the Manchester transport poster and the North American Free Trade Agreement's depiction. Parker also discusses the Royal Mint's two-pound coin design, highlighting the odd number of cogs and the public's reaction to it.

15:08

🌙 The Moon, Stars, and Sesame Street

Matt Parker humorously critiques the portrayal of the moon and stars in a Sesame Street book and the Texas license plate, pointing out the astronomical inaccuracies. He discusses the crescent moon and the visibility of stars, emphasizing the importance of basic astronomy knowledge. Parker also touches on the broader theme of artistic license versus factual accuracy in design and media.

20:08

🏗️ Resonance in Engineering and Architecture

Parker explores the concept of resonance in engineering and architecture, using the example of a Jenga tower to demonstrate the effect. He discusses historical instances of bridges affected by resonance, such as the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and the Millennium Bridge in London. Parker emphasizes the importance of understanding and accounting for resonance in modern construction to prevent catastrophic failures.

25:10

🎲 Probability, Dice, and the Art of Chance

Matt Parker engages the audience in a discussion on probability through interactive games involving coin flips and unusual dice. He explains the mathematical principles behind the games, highlighting how the perceived fairness of a game can be skewed by the underlying math. Parker uses these examples to illustrate the complexities and counterintuitive aspects of probability, and how humans often misunderstand or underestimate the role of chance.

30:14

🚀 The Ariane 5 Rocket Catastrophe

Parker concludes his talk with the story of the Ariane 5 rocket disaster, caused by a simple mathematical error. He invites Lucy Green from UCL's Mullard Space Science Laboratory to showcase the remnants of the spacecraft that were recovered from the crash site. Parker and Green discuss the impact of the incident on the space industry, the subsequent investigation, and the successful relaunch of the Cluster mission, emphasizing the importance of learning from mistakes and the resilience of the scientific community.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Mathematics

Mathematics is a field of study that deals with numbers, quantities, and shapes using logical reasoning and calculations. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of mathematics in various aspects of modern society, including engineering, finance, and science. The speaker also highlights how mathematical errors can lead to significant consequences, such as the explosion of the Ariane 5 rocket due to a simple mathematical mistake.

💡Education

Education refers to the process of acquiring knowledge, skills, values, and habits. In the context of the video, the speaker discusses his background as a maths teacher and his efforts to promote mathematics and excite people about the subject. The speaker also touches on the common misconception that mathematics is solely about getting the right answer, emphasizing instead the learning process involved in doing maths.

💡Probability

Probability is a measure of the likelihood that a particular event will occur, expressed as a number between 0 and 1. In the video, the speaker explores the concept of probability through various examples, such as flipping coins and the chances of random events occurring. The speaker also uses probability to demonstrate how unlikely events can happen due to the large number of opportunities, and how this can lead to misconceptions about cause and effect.

💡Engineering

Engineering is the application of scientific and mathematical principles to design, build, and maintain structures, machines, and processes. In the video, the speaker discusses engineering in the context of structural failures and the importance of accurate mathematical calculations in ensuring the success and safety of engineering projects. The speaker uses the example of the Ariane 5 rocket explosion to highlight how a small mathematical error can lead to catastrophic consequences.

💡Resonance

Resonance is a phenomenon in physics where an object or system vibrates at a greater amplitude at certain frequencies, which match its natural frequency. In the video, the speaker explains how resonance can cause structures like bridges and buildings to oscillate and potentially fail if the resonant frequency is reached. The speaker demonstrates this concept using a Jenga tower on a vibrating platform.

💡Mathematical Errors

Mathematical errors refer to mistakes or inaccuracies in mathematical calculations or reasoning. In the video, the speaker uses the term to describe situations where incorrect mathematical calculations or oversights have led to significant problems or failures. The speaker emphasizes that while mathematical errors can have serious consequences, they are also opportunities for learning and improvement.

💡Humble Pi

Humble Pi is a book written by the speaker, Matt Parker, which focuses on comedic accounts of mathematical errors and their consequences. The book aims to entertain readers with stories of things going wrong due to incorrect calculations, while also highlighting the importance of mathematics in everyday life. The speaker uses anecdotes from the book to illustrate how mathematical mistakes can lead to significant problems, but also to emphasize the value of learning from these errors.

💡Communication

Communication is the act of sharing or exchanging information, ideas, or feelings. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of effective communication in teaching and promoting mathematics. He uses humor and storytelling to engage his audience and make complex mathematical concepts more accessible.

💡Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is the ability to analyze and evaluate information and arguments in a logical and objective manner. In the video, the speaker encourages critical thinking by challenging common misconceptions about mathematics and by demonstrating how to approach problems with a questioning and analytical mindset.

💡Learning from Mistakes

Learning from mistakes is the process of acquiring new knowledge or skills by reflecting on errors or failures. In the video, the speaker highlights the value of making mistakes in the learning process, especially in mathematics. He argues that mistakes are not only inevitable but also essential for improving understanding and problem-solving abilities.

Highlights

Matt Parker, a former maths teacher, discusses the importance of mathematics and its impact on modern society.

The talk introduces the book 'Humble Pi', which explores famous mathematical mistakes and their consequences.

An amusing anecdote about a misprint on a two-pound coin is shared, highlighting the Royal Mint's response to the public's critique.

The speaker emphasizes that maths is about learning, even when getting it wrong, and not just about arriving at the correct answer.

Inspirational posters in the teaching world are used as a metaphor to discuss the interconnectedness of various societal elements.

The concept of resonance is introduced, with examples from bridges and buildings to demonstrate how mathematical principles apply to real-world structures.

A live demonstration with a Jenga tower and a washing machine motor illustrates the powerful effects of resonance.

The speaker invites Paul Shepherd from the University of Bath to discuss how maths is used in engineering to prevent disasters like the Millennium Bridge incident.

A discussion on the importance of human movement in the design of structures and how it has influenced engineering advancements.

A probability game with a spinning wheel is introduced to engage the audience in a fun and interactive way.

The speaker challenges common misconceptions about probability with examples involving coins and dice.

A heartwarming story about a couple who unknowingly took a photograph together as children is shared,探讨 the role of probability and statistics in seemingly extraordinary events.

The speaker demonstrates the possibility of a coin landing on its edge through a series of flips, emphasizing the unexpected in probability.

The Ariane 5 rocket disaster is discussed as a case study of how a simple mathematical error can lead to catastrophic results.

Lucy Green from UCL's Mullard Space Science Laboratory joins the stage to show mangled spacecraft parts recovered from the Ariane 5 crash.

The speaker concludes by advocating for the learning of mathematics, emphasizing that making mistakes is part of the process.

Transcripts

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Related Tags

Math Mistakes Humble Pi Matt Parker Probability Engineering Failures Ariane 5 Rocket Educational Humor Mathematics Importance Space Science Woolworth's Stores