Mathematical facts are often represented through expressions (also known as formulas) that feature numerous numbers. Some of those numbers show up in the formulas "more often" than other ones — think of $0$, $1$ or $\pi=3.1415926\dots$ — and that gives us good reason to distinguish them from the rest by giving them appropriate "unique" names and studying them in greater depth. Names can be symbolic and short — like $\pi$ or $G$ — but in most cases such numbers are named after scientists: the Euler–Mascheroni constant, the Planck constant, etc. The special number $2^{1/12}=1.059463\dots$ appears as the frequency ratio of a semitone (the interval between any two adjacent notes) and, at the same time, indicates that the 100% annual interest on a bank account means about 5.9% interest monthly. In my lecture, I will discuss the conceptual and historical development of the practice of assigning names to numbers, as well as related issues concerning the calculation of numbers and a deeper "understanding" of them.
With musical contributions by the following artists:
- Eva-Maria Hekkelman (cello)
- Sun Woo Park (piano)
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