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Hardy and Ramanujan

Marcus du Sautoy argues that mathematics is the driving force behind modern science: GH Hardy and the prime number 'menace'.

This ten part history of mathematics from Newton to the present day, reveals the personalities behind the calculations: the passions and rivalries of mathematicians struggling to get their ideas heard. Professor Marcus du Sautoy shows how these masters of abstraction find a role in the real world and proves that mathematics is the driving force behind modern science.

Today, G.H.Hardy, the mathematician who insisted he had never done anything useful. And yet his work on the "diabolical malice" inherent in prime numbers inspired the millions of codes that now help to keep the internet safe.

Producer: Anna Buckley

From 2010.

Available now

15 minutes

Last on

Fri 23 Aug 2019 02:15

Broadcasts

  • Thu 24 Jun 2010 15:45
  • Fri 1 Oct 2010 23:30
  • Thu 13 Feb 2014 13:45
  • Thu 22 Aug 2019 14:15
  • Fri 23 Aug 2019 02:15

Podcast