Maths dudes: what level of maths is this?

Grunfeld

I hear the words, I see the diagrams.  It's all beautifully alien but sadly I imagine one would need to understand it to find it interesting.  A non-mathematician is never going to see what's going on here.

I'm curious and wondered:  what level of maths is this?

I mean, what level of exam grade/ education would you need in order for you to be fluent with the ideas in this video?

What does i^i = ?

phil_b

what level of maths is this

= youtube maths

=some who thinks they are clever and entertaining but is no  Johnny Ball

Seymour1

Introduction to complex number theory is probably A level maths.
Stuff in the video probably first year of an engineering, maths or physics degree.

Grunfeld

@phil_b -- so is it like a pastiche or parody then?  I.e. not real maths, just sort of in-jokes (however lame?)

No worries, just seen @Seymour1 's answer.  Thanks!

stickyfiddle

Early to mid first year uni, I'd say.

Based on extremely hazy 15+ year-old memories of an Oxford maths degree...

TimmyO

Seymour1 said:

Introduction to complex number theory is probably A level maths.
Stuff in the video probably first year of an engineering, maths or physics degree.

Agree.

As to what this is - it's self-indulgent "...I thend to think of his more as..." you and every other maths lecturer/maths student/engineering student on the planet mate ...

stickyfiddle

Grunfeld said:

@phil_b -- so is it like a pastiche or parody then?  I.e. not real maths, just sort of in-jokes (however lame?)

No worries, just seen @Seymour1 's answer.  Thanks!

No, just maths!

phil_b

Grunfeld said:

@phil_b -- so is it like a pastiche or parody then?  I.e. not real maths, just sort of in-jokes (however lame?)

No worries, just seen @Seymour1 's answer.  Thanks!

no it real maths just presented in a slightly irritating manor 

mart

Yep, as @Seymour1 said, it’s 1st year uni maths - theoretically accessible from A level further maths for a bright student.

Matt Parker is incredibly good at the phenomenally hard job of taking hard ideas and making something fun out of them - his video about spreadsheets

https://youtu.be/UBX2QQHlQ_I

is pretty good. But judging by the comments here he didn’t hit the mark so well on this one.

UnclePsychosis

Agreed with the consensus already - the basic concepts are A Level, and the video as a whole falls somewhere between A Level and first year physics/engineering/maths at University.

The guy in the video is a bit irritating but Euler's identity is quite genuinely one of the coolest things in science. It's pretty much perfect. 

stratman3142

Euler's formula was covered at A level for me, but that was way back in the early 70's. It was referred to as the 'Exponential form' in a little book I've still got from that time called "A-Level Pure Mathematics by A.K. Beard (dated 1973)".

I often learned the rules of maths during A level without always fully understanding the physical application, just to get through the exams. For example, things didn't start to make sense until complex numbers were applied to real world situations, such as circuit theory. I can't remember whether that started at A - level physics or at my first year at Uni studying electrical engineering. Then it was really reinforced in the early years of my job when I started as an antenna designer.

It isn't immediately obvious to me where i^i would come in useful in a real world situation.

monquixote

If you want reasonably complex mathematical concepts explained in an approachable manner then 3 blue 1 brown on YouTube is fantastic.

sev112

I remember trying to explain negative numbers to my dad. Can you imagine explaining him complex numbers ? 

phil_b

sev112 said:

I remember trying to explain negative numbers to my dad. Can you imagine explaining him complex numbers ? 

I am now trying to imagine you explaining imaginary numbers to him

Blaendulais

Aside from adding ups take aways and the odd multiplication in 30 years as a doctor i have never really used maths at o level let alone A level.

I liked it but often wonder why the general public need to study it in such depth at school

mrkb

i - ah imaginary numbers, the square root of -1.
I did that as part of my BTEC HNC and then my BEng. Ive never used it since, but it had its application in electronics I think.

stratman3142

Blaendulais said:

Aside from adding ups take aways and the odd multiplication in 30 years as a doctor i have never really used maths at o level let alone A level.

I liked it but often wonder why the general public need to study it in such depth at school

I guess it's good to do the core subjects up to GCSE level (O level in my day), as you don't know what your specialisation might be.

Handsome_Chris

mrkb said:

i - ah imaginary numbers, the square root of -1.
I did that as part of my BTEC HNC and then my BEng. Ive never used it since, but it had its application in electronics I think.

@mrkb , you're on point there, nearly.  It's i in standard maths speak, j in engineering as i is already used for current.

IIRC it's useful for working out values with respect to LCR ccts.

Handsome_Chris

@Grunfeld it was OND/ONC level about 20 years ago, if that helps?

Edit: And I hated it.

digitalscream

Yeah, that was all covered in my Further Maths A-level. Of course, back then the syllabus was very different depending on which exam board you were with.

sgosden

mrkb said:

i - ah imaginary numbers, the square root of -1.
I did that as part of my BTEC HNC and then my BEng. Ive never used it since, but it had its application in electronics I think.

Yup. Did it all in engineering HNC . Never used it in 8 years of practical engineering. 
It's popped up again now I'm doing degree. 
Looking forward to never using it again.