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 were the implications of Hippasus's discovery of irrational numbers for the Pythagorean belief system?

How did the introduction of Hindu-Arabic numerals impact European society during the Middle Ages?

Discuss the significance of zero in mathematics and its historical controversies.

In what ways have numbers been considered dangerous or illegal throughout history?

What role do numbers play in the expression of concepts and information in modern society?