The Godfather of Numbers

MoWe 10 – 12:15 p.m.

Performing Arts & Humanities Building 123

Manil Suri

**Department Consent Required**

Pre-Req: Students must have successfully completed the equivalent of Math 104 or Math 106 with a grade of C or higher, or placed above this level on the LRC Math placement exam in order for this class to meet the Math GEP requirement.

Course Description: Could one design the universe using just mathematics? That’s the question we’ll explore in this course. Numbers are the easiest, they can be hewn out of emptiness. For geometry, we’ll need the notion of “point,” leading to notions of length, distance, space. Circles and squares might be too boring, so we’ll also generate fractal shapes. Then comes physics, and some hard choices. What alternative to select for distance, whether to use “curved” geometry or not, whether to make the universe finite or infinite. Fortunately, we’ll have “The Godfather of Numbers” to guide us, the eponymous narrator of our textbook. Along the way, he’ll point out connections with science, philosophy, art, and show us how math is woven into our universe’s very fabric.