Starting in Africa 20,000 years ago, trace the history of numbers through time, including Egyptian use of fractions and the problems of Roman numerals. Today numbers help us learn solve complex problems. But what of the future?

A brief history of numbers

How many times have you used mathematics today? Starting with Maths takes a detailed look into the history behind numbers and how mathematics has evolved into something we use in everyday life. We hear the experiences of people who rely heavily on accurate calculations for the success of their jobs. In addition to this we look into the lives of 12 OU students as they explain how studying makes them feel ‘on top of the world’. This material forms part of the course: Y162 Starting with maths.