Transcript -- How bamboo scaffolding does its job.

Exploring mathematics: a powerful tool - for iPod/iPhone

Transcript -- An ancient tradition

An introduction to the tracks on this album.

Mathematics: a powerful tool

Transcript -- An introduction to the tracks on this album.

Transcript -- Mathematics: a powerful tool

An introduction to mathematical modelling in the real world.

Mathematical modelling for real

Transcript -- An introduction to mathematical modelling in the real world.

Transcript -- Mathematical modelling for real

An ancient tradition

Using statistical modelling to calculate endangered species’ survival rates.

How maths helps dolphins

Transcript -- Using statistical modelling to calculate endangered species’ survival rates.

Transcript -- How maths helps dolphins

Why elaborate mathematical modelling is needed to predict ice break-up in Antarctica.

Predicting climate change

Transcript -- Why elaborate mathematical modelling is needed to predict ice break-up in Antarctica.

Transcript -- Predicting climate change

Bildung

How can mathematics help us to understand the world around us? The tracks on this album take us to Antarctica, Hong Kong and New Zealand to find out how mathematicians work with scientists and biologists to create mathematical models, and how collaborations like these can help decipher and predict a range of natural phenomena. We learn how the 17th Century saw the birth of one of the most important mathematical tools - calculus, and modern mathematicians examine the contribution of its three inventors - Fermat, Newton and Leibniz. This material forms part of The Open University course MS221 Exploring mathematics.