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On rational and irrational numbers, strings and harmony

Submitted by Paulius Gutauskas on
On rational and irrational numbers, strings and harmony
Tuesday 18th Aug - 6:00 PM
Llewellyn Hall
Presented by
ANU Mathematical Sciences Institute (MSI)

Join us for a Public Lecture by Professor Uri Onn from the Mathematical Sciences Institute (MSI), at the Australian National University as part of National Science Week.

Abstract

This lecture aims at introducing the general audience to a beautiful relationship between maths, physics and music. We will explore the evolution of ideas that led to the equal temperament, the 12-note system which prevails in much music worldwide. The main characters in this story are the wave equation in a string and its pure solutions, which are given by waves with integral periods; the relations between them which are rational numbers; and finally, a twist in the plot where equal temperament is actually done with irrational numbers to achieve symmetry.

The lecture will be accompanied by live music.

This public lecture is accessible for students in year 11 and 12.

Speaker

Uri Onn

Musicians

John Mackey (Tenor Saxophone)
Wayne Kelly (Piano)
Ben O'Loghlin (Double Bass)

This project is supported by Inspiring Australia ACT and the ACT Government

If you require accessibility accommodations or a visitor Personal Emergency Evacuation plan please contact the event organiser.

 

Acknowledgment of Country

The Australian National University acknowledges, celebrates and pays our respects to the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people of the Canberra region and to all First Nations Australians on whose traditional lands we meet and work, and whose cultures are among the oldest continuing cultures in human history.