Inconvenient truths about sqrt(2) | Real numbers and limits Math Foundations 80 | N J Wildberger

This video begins a discussion on the role of irrationality in mathematics, starting with the "square root of 2". The difficulties with this concept go back to the ancient Greeks, as the Pythagoreans realized that the side and diagonal of a square were incommensurable. The Greeks realized that there was no rational number whose square was exactly two, a result which historically appeared in Euclid. In the modern age this idea that there were "irrational numbers" that could be incorporated into the Hindu-Arabic decimal number system was introduced by Stevin in 1585. There are these days three approaches to "sqrt(2)": an applied one dealing with approximations, an algebraic one involving a finite field extension of the rational numbers, and an analytic one which attempts to apply the square root algorithm to assign to sqrt(2) an infinite decimal. It is this last approach which does not work, leading to serious logical problems with modern analysis. This lecture is part of the MathFoundations series, which tries to lay out proper foundations for mathematics, and will not shy away from discussing the serious logical difficulties entwined in modern pure mathematics. For those interested in this topic, be sure to watch the further videos in this series which go into considerable detail about the various problems with real numbers as infinite decimals, equivalence classes of Cauchy sequences, and Dedekind cuts. None of them work. Video Content: 00:00 Introduction 4:06 The Pythagoreans 8:35 There is no rational which squares to 2 11:43 It's wrong to restate that the number square root of 2 is irrational 14:39 An applied approach 17:43 Applied approach is practical and important theoretically 20:53 Three cases arising in geometry 23:37 Algebraic approach 28:18 Analytic approach 35:12 Modern analysis ************ Research Gate page: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/... Blog: http://njwildberger.com/ Online courses at openlearning.com (currently Algebraic Calculus One): https://www.openlearning.com/courses/... Please join us for an exciting new approach to one of mathematics' most important subjects! Patreon:   / njwildberger   Your support would be much appreciated. Wild Egg Maths YT channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriF... Insights into Mathematics Playlists:    • The Algebra of Boole, Logic and Circuit An...   (31 videos)    • Box Arithmetic: a new framework for Mathem...   (18 videos)    • Hypergroups and Diffusion Symmetry: an int...   (6 videos)    • Rational Trigonometry for maths, physics a...   (4 videos)    • Sociology and Pure Maths   (44 videos)    • Old Babylonian mathematics and Plimpton 322   (8 videos)    • Math Foundations   (226 videos)    • Math Seminars N J Wildberger   (26 videos)    • Math History (ancient to modern)   (45 videos)    • Geometric Linear Algebra   (43 videos)    • Algebraic Topology   (40 videos)    • Universal Hyperbolic Geometry   (55 videos)    • Differential Geometry   (34 videos)    • Elementary Probability and Statistics   (8 videos)    • Math Terminology for Incoming Uni Students   (9 videos)    • Famous Math Problems   ( 46 videos)    • Elementary Mathematics Explained (K-6)   (40 videos)    • Ancient Mathematics and insights of Howard...   (7 videos)    • Wild West Banking: A mathematician goes We...   (7 videos)    • Playing Go: the ancient oriental board game   (19 videos)    • Maths and Music   (21 videos)    • Year 9 Mathematics (review fractions, deci...   (10 videos)    • Wild Trig: An introduction to Rational Tri...   (94 videos)