How do I learn maths when school’s shut?
CrowdScience
BBC
4.8 • 1K Ratings
🗓️ 1 May 2020
⏱️ 35 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
What’s the importance of zero, and how was it discovered? How do scientists calculate Pi’s infinite digits? Why do so many people find maths difficult – and what’s the most difficult thing in maths?
CrowdScience takes on a whole bunch of questions sent in by high school students in Spain. Like many children all over the world, their school is currently closed due to the coronavirus lockdown, but lessons continue at home. So how are their studies going, and can CrowdScience help out?
We attempt to answer some of their trickiest maths questions, with the help of mathematicians Katie Steckles and Matt Parker, and mathematical biologist Kit Yates.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton.
Producer: Cathy Edwards
(Photo: A boy studying. Credit: Getty Images)
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Take some time for yourself with soothing classical music from the mindful mix, the Science of |
| 0:07.0 | Happiness Podcast. |
| 0:08.0 | For the last 20 years I've dedicated my career to exploring the science of living a happier more meaningful life and I want |
| 0:14.4 | to share that science with you. |
| 0:16.1 | And just one thing, deep calm with Michael Mosley. |
| 0:19.4 | I want to help you tap in to your hidden relaxation response system and open the door to that |
| 0:25.4 | calmer place within. Listen on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:31.1 | Hello. Hello and welcome to Throwing Pencils on the floor from the BBC World Service |
| 0:39.8 | with me Marnie Chasterton. Don't worry, this isn't the desperate consequences of being confined to my house. |
| 0:46.0 | This is actually an experiment. |
| 0:48.0 | I've measured the width of my floorboards. |
| 0:51.0 | I'm throwing this pencil on the floor 100 times and after |
| 0:57.4 | noting how many times it hits a crack between the boards I should have everything |
| 1:01.8 | I need for a calculation that will give me pie. |
| 1:04.9 | The mathematical constant, not a pastry. |
| 1:07.3 | That crossed the line. |
| 1:10.9 | This edition of Crowd Science features literal math's homework as a bunch of high school |
| 1:16.6 | students currently stuck at home have sent us questions. |
| 1:20.8 | It does get more interesting than pencil drops as I'm joined by Dr Katie Steckles, the mathematician with all the know-how and we'll be getting to pie later. |
| 1:30.0 | But first let's hear from Adrian, who has a question about nothing. |
| 1:34.0 | Hello, my name is Adrian. I'm 16 years old. I'm from Spain. |
| 1:39.0 | And my question is, what's the importance of zero? How was it discovered? Thank you. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.