Wondrous mathematics: The fantastical story how the wondrous world of infinity tamed the finite
December 28, 2023
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM Add to calendar
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM Add to calendar
Pseudoroom
Fun with numbers larger than infinity.
Love is infinite. The joy of children is infinite. These notions come to mind when we think of infinity. Mathematics, however, reveals further, initially hidden perspectives.
It turns out that the well-known number line from school is not the final word of wisdom: after 1, 2, and 3, after a million and a trillion, after the number of grains of sand – after all these numbers, infinitely large numbers follow. Astonishingly, we humans, despite our limited minds, can explore this infinite hierarchy of large numbers and gain reliable information about them.
In this talk we will learn how to visualize and compute with these infinitely large numbers. (This part of the talk will be similar to an earlier version of this talk given at 35c3.)
Then we will go on a tour of varied applications of those infinitely large numbers: There are problems which, provably so, can only be solved by appealing to the infinite.
Surprisingly, one of these applications is in algorithm design.
In order to enjoy the talk, absolutely no mathematical prerequisites are needed: The talk is even accessible to school children of age ten and above (if they understand English). And still it is mathematically rigorous – we'll learn how to think about and compute with infinities in a precise fashion. After the talk you'll be able to effortlessly converse on infinitely large numbers with your mates.
There will also be a [companion talk on very large but still finite numbers](https://events.ccc.de/congress/2023/hub/en/event/wondrous-mathematics-large-numbers-very-large-numb/). This talk is not a prerequisite for the other, and vice versa.
Additional information
| Type | other |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
More sessions
| 12/27/23 |
Join us for a cozy, un-ceremonial opening of the House of Tea! Come and chill, learn how to help yourself with the tea and share it, and/or ask any questions about the project, helping, and how you already are part of it! :)
|
| 12/27/23 |
### Eine pädagogische Einführung in das beliebte Computerspiel mit Minecraft Education. Wolltest du schon immer einmal wissen, was es mit Minecraft auf sich hat und würdest gerne herausfinden, ob du dich in dieser digitalen Sandkiste wohlfühlst? Unser 2-stündiger Workshop bietet AnfängerInnen jeden Alters das passende Umfeld, um das beliebte Spiel in Ruhe kennenzulernen.
|
| 12/27/23 |
https://soundcloud.com/jeanette-tr-sbien/0116a
|
| 12/27/23 |
https://pretalx.c3voc.de/37c3-haecksen-workshops-2023/talk/GN9LDH/
|
| 12/27/23 |
Eröffnung der Sendezentrum Assembly
|
| 12/27/23 |
Wer nicht Chefredakteur einer großen Zeitung ist, kann auf andere Art die öffentliche Debatte vorantreiben: Kommunikationsguerilla im öffentlichen Raum schafft Erregungskorridore, an denen die öffentliche Debatte aufgehängt werden kann. Wir haben den Hergang verschiedener vergangener Projekte, kleinere wie größere, rekonstruiert und geben Tipps zu Theorie und Praxis.
|
| 12/27/23 |
Just one sign switched and all of physics changes: Moving objects lose kinetic energy instead of gaining it and radiating objects get hotter instead of colder. Infinite velocity and infinite temperature are no longer impossible. Stars look like rainbow-colored lines instead of white dots and turning your arrow of time around into your own past is just as easy as turning from left to right. In this talk, we will explore the physics in a spacetime with signature (+,+,+,+) as presented by Greg Egan ...
|
