What does it feel like to invent math?

Why HN readers recommended it

Recommended as a favorite Grant Sanderson video and a visual introduction to p-adic numbers and sums like 1+2+4+...

This is a summary from the source dataset, not an endorsement by Hacker News or the video creator.

Video & recommendation details

Creator / channel

3Blue1Brown

Topic

infinite sums and p-adic numbers

Format

explainer

Level

intermediate

HN recommenders in dataset

6

HN mentions in dataset

6

Recommendation years in dataset

2016–2024

These counts and years describe the included Hacker News records; they are not YouTube views or the video’s publication date.

From the original HN conversations

Excerpts from the recorded comments. Follow each source for the full comment and surrounding discussion.

• I loved this video [VIDEO] "An exploration of infinite sums, from convergent to divergent, including a brief introduction to the 2-adic metric, all themed on that cycle between discovery and invention in math."

• So many things I could say about this, but I"ll let Alan Kay speak for me - [LINK] Alan talks about how ideas in Calculus could be manifested from an early age and a richness in understanding built up as they aged up: - at …

• 3lue1brown has a great visualization of constructing p-adic numbers and calculating their metric through the lens of 2-adic numbers: [VIDEO] This article fills in some bits omitted from the video: [LINK]