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Lucky Numbers
This is a Teachers’ TV programme from the series Painting with Numbers. In this episode Professor Marcus du Sautoy combines visual demonstrations with his unique gift for explanation to reveal the many benefits of understanding mathematics.
He looks at the numbers behind calculating risk by analysing probability. Beginning by looking at simple probabilities he moves on to explain how people picking numbers at random may not turn out to be as random as they think. The episode includes a good explanation of the Monty Hall problem before investigating how advertisers use statistics to sell us their products. Marcus concludes by showing how miss-interpreting probabilities in the courtroom can mean the difference between freedom and lifetime imprisonment and explores the bizarre nature of causation and demonstrates how, though two events might be linked, one does not necessarily cause the other.
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