2017-05-04

[public] 110K views, 3.10K likes, 72.0 dislikes audio only

PBS Infinite Series

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Using the harmonic series we can build an infinitely long bridge. It takes a very long time though. A faster method was discovered in 2009.

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Previous Episode

Hacking at Quantum Speed with Shor’s Algorithm

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Additional Resources:

Overhang article:: http://www.maa.org/sites/default/files/images/upload_library/22/Robbins/Patterson1.pdf

Maximum overhang article:: http://www.maa.org/sites/default/files/pdf/upload_library/22/Robbins/Patterson2.pdf

Physical limitations:: https://www.quantamagazine.org/20161117-overhang-insights-puzzle/

http://mathworld.wolfram.com/BookStackingProblem.html

There’s actually more than one way to build an infinitely long bridge. The traditional method is shown in many calculus classes but a super-fast method of building this bridge was demonstrated by two mathematicians in 2009.

Written and Hosted by Kelsey Houston-Edwards

Produced by Rusty Ward

Graphics by Ray Lux

Made by Kornhaber Brown (www.kornhaberbrown.com)

Comments answered by Kelsey:

MultiMurmaider

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Marhsall Webb

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10TinsThought

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