Root 2 - Numberphile

The square root of two is a fascinating number with a long and sordid history. It also forms the basis of most office paper, such as A4, A3, etc.

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Videos by Brady Haran

This video features Professor Roger Bowley and Dr James Grime. More about our contributors at www.numberphile.com/team

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• root 2
• square root of 2
• root two
• square root
• pythagoras
• pythogoreans
• 2 (number)
• numberphile
• number phile
• number
• numbers
• maths
• mathematics
• mathematical
• numerals
• count
• counting
• james grime
• singingbanana
• roger bowley

[PoopTruffles]

MINDFUCKED.

[TheScars75]

In which direction are they supposed to piss at noon?

[jonesmm3]

So what was shown at the end proves absolutely that the A series of paper is a lie.

[pixeltunechip]

@Dakktyrel That's what he said, that rad(2) was impossible to represent as a fraction.

[JFlopex]

@Dakktyrel Sorry to inform you that the official dimensions for A4 paper is 8.3 x 11.7 in

and true it doesn't exactly equal root 2, however, it is extremely close.

11.7/8.3 = 1.409638...

root 2 = 1.414213...

[Dakktyrel]

A4 paper is 8.5 x 11. 11 / 8.5 = 1.2941 ...

Fold it in half 8.5 / 5.5 = 1.54 ...

Fold it in half 5.5 / 4.25 = 1.2941 ...

While it may have a predictable series of out comes, it does not always (ever) equal root 2 (1.4142 ... )

[fantaboyvideo]

@TheScars75 As long as they aren't lying on their backs I think they're good.

[TheDigitalStone]

I'm disappointed. I thought this was going to be really complex -_-

[GreenEggism]

i thought this was possible with the golden ratio too? hmm

[draver21]

@ObadiahtheSlim

Uh, that is what the professor said, so why the objection? Pantheism is the view that God is the universe, or that God expresses himself as the universe. The Catholic church did not like this theory due to their assumption that God must be separate from the universe, but Giordano's view left no room for God thus he was burned for his pantheistic view that the universe is infinite.

[vinivinus]

Do one about Galileo's paradox.. Mind blowing!