Painting with Numbers - Zero to Infinity

with Marcus du Sautoy

In this programme, mathematician Marcus du Sautoy explains how humans have developed numbers for their mathematical needs. We learn that humans first began counting with whole numbers only, but then needed to invent others as their mathematical skills increased. Marcus meets with Dr Eleanor Robson who reveals that zero, as we know it, was invented by Indian mathematicians and that it has revolutionised the way maths is done. He also takes us to Hilbert's Hotel and demonstrates the mind-boggling mathematics of infinity, hoping to convince us that the universe of numbers is as diverse as the universe we live in.