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A brief history of numerical systems - Alessandra King

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TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9... and 0. With just these ten symbols, we can write any rational number imaginable. But why these particular symbols? Why ten of them? And why do we arrange them the way we do? Alessandra King gives a brief history of numerical systems.

WatchThink Dig Deeper Discuss
When are bases 2, 8, and 16 used in our daily life? (Pick 2) A When we measure time B When we program C When we measure angles D When we use our digital devices

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Meet The Creators

  • Educator Alessandra King
  • Director Michael Kalopaidis
  • Script Editor Alex Gendler
  • Producer Zedem Media
  • Illustrator Jeanne Bornet
  • Animator Maria Savva
  • Sound Designer Andreas Trachonitis
  • Associate Producer Jessica Ruby
  • Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Narrator Julianna Zarzycki

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