The Story of 1: How a Single Digit Created Math and Changed the World
Impossible Pictures
The humble digit 1 has in actuality been the prime mover in creating the entire concept of mathematics—and a surprisingly large force in the shaping of world history. This very clever video hosted by the irrepressible Terry Jones of Monty Python fame tells the entire story of 1 and how, with 0, it has come to dominate society through digital technology. Landmark developments—addition and subtraction in Sumer, measurement in Egypt, geometry in Greece, Roman numerals in Rome, “Arabic” numbers in India, and more—are spotlighted. In addition, pivotal figures including Pythagoras, Archimedes, al-Khuwarizmi, Fibonacci, and Leibniz are introduced. Recommended for grades 6-18. (60 minutes)