Combinatorial mathematics is concerned with selecting, arranging and counting objects of various kinds. Included under its wide umbrella are permutations and combinations, graphs and networks, certain geometrical problems, and sudoku puzzles. This lecture marks the publication of Combinatorics: Ancient and Modern, edited by Robin Wilson and John J. Watkins and written for a general audience by a galaxy of distinguished historians of science and practising mathematicians. The first ever history of the subject, it has chapters ranging from ancient India and China, via the Islamic world and the Renaissance, to recent topics.

The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website: http://www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-and-events/the-mathematics-that-counts

Gresham College has been giving free public lectures since 1597. This tradition continues today with all of our five or so public lectures a week being made available for free download from our website. There are currently over 1,500 lectures free to access or download from the website.
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