BPML: To Infinity and Beyond
Dr David Hume

Lecture Brief

Counting is the fundamental building block on which almost all mathematics is built. Mathematicians (and a surprising number of other people) regularly work with infinite things, and counting those is rather more subtle and interesting. In this lecture, we'll explore a range of problems and solutions which arise when we count infinite things, including: 

Are there more odd numbers than whole numbers?

Why does Hilbert's hotel have vacancies when every room is currently occupied? 

How many library books need returning on graduation day at the University of Never-Ending Studies?

Can we count the numbers between 0 and 1?

How many infinities are there?

Biography

Dr David Hume is a geometric group theorist, specialising in coarse geometry and its interactions with several other branches of mathematics and computer science. He is a member of the Algebra group in the School of Mathematics.

RSVP

Birmingham Popular Maths Lecture: To Infinity and Beyond will take place on Wednesday 23 October in Lecture Theatre A in the Watson Building (R15 on our campus map). The lecture will run from 18:00-19:00, with doors opening from 17:45.

There is no need to register to attend in person. If you'd like to register to attend via Zoom, please fill in this Zoom registration form.