TED-ED: A brief history of banned numbers - Alessandra King

The video explores the historical and modern significance of numbers, highlighting their power to influence society. It begins with the impact of words and numbers in history, focusing on Pythagorean discoveries of irrational numbers. The narrative then shifts to the Middle Ages, discussing the adoption of Hindu-Arabic numerals and the controversies surrounding zero and negative numbers. Finally, it examines the modern implications of numbers, including their legal and symbolic significance, and how they can represent protected information.

What was the main reason irrational numbers were considered a threat by the Pythagoreans?

• They contradicted the idea of a perfect universe.

• They were difficult to calculate.

• They were too complex for the average person.

• They were not useful in trade.

Why were Hindu-Arabic numerals initially resisted in Europe?

• They were easier to forge or alter.

• They were not compatible with existing mathematical theories.

• They were associated with foreign cultures.

• They were too complex to understand.

What was a major concern about the concept of zero in the Middle Ages?

• It was seen as a symbol of infinity.

• It allowed for the recording of debt.

• It was difficult to represent visually.

• It was not recognized by the church.

In what form was the DVD decryption code shared in 2001?

• As a binary code

• As a symbolic representation

• As a large prime number

• As a mathematical equation

Why might some numbers be considered illegal today?

• They can represent protected information.

• They are associated with ancient myths.

• They are not recognized by modern mathematics.

• They are too complex to understand.