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Best Pure mathematics videos, as recommended on Hacker News

91 videos about pure mathematics that Hacker News commenters keep recommending, mentioned between 2010 and 2026. Mostly explainer, lecture, talk. Channels that come up most: 3Blue1Brown, Numberphile, Mathologer, MIT OpenCourseWare. Sorted by how consistently HN recommended them over the years.

The most recommended is Vectors | Chapter 1, Essence of linear algebra: HN's go-to recommendation for learning linear algebra intuition, repeatedly credited with making concepts click and complementing textbooks.

• courseVectors | Chapter 1, Essence of linear algebra3Blue1Brown · 17 HN recommenders · 2018–2026
• explainerBut what is the Fourier Transform? A visual introduction.3Blue1Brown · 16 HN recommenders · 2018–2025
• lectureLec 1 | MIT 18.06 Linear Algebra, Spring 2005MIT OpenCourseWare · 11 HN recommenders · 2011–2020
• lectureThe Most IMPORTANT Video You'll Ever See (part 1 of 8)wonderingmind42 · 13 HN recommenders · 2010–2025
• courseThe essence of calculus3Blue1Brown · 10 HN recommenders · 2017–2025
• lectureSiggraph2019 Geometric AlgebraBivector · 8 HN recommenders · 2020–2022
• lectureCategory Theory 1.1: Motivation and PhilosophyBartosz Milewski · 11 HN recommenders · 2016–2026
• courseEssence of linear algebra preview3Blue1Brown · 11 HN recommenders · 2016–2018
• explainerA Swift Introduction to Geometric Algebrasudgylacmoe · 7 HN recommenders · 2020–2024
• explainerThe hardest problem on the hardest test3Blue1Brown · 8 HN recommenders · 2017–2025
• courseImaginary Numbers Are Real [Part 1: Introduction]Welch Labs · 7 HN recommenders · 2017–2025
• explainerThe determinant | Chapter 6, Essence of linear algebra3Blue1Brown · 6 HN recommenders · 2019–2024
• explainerFractals are typically not self-similar3Blue1Brown · 7 HN recommenders · 2017–2024
• explainerThe Banach–Tarski ParadoxVsauce · 6 HN recommenders · 2015–2024
• explainerThinking outside the 10-dimensional box3Blue1Brown · 6 HN recommenders · 2017–2025
• talkThe Future of Mathematics?Microsoft Research · 9 HN recommenders · 2019–2025
• explainerEigenvectors and eigenvalues | Chapter 14, Essence of linear algebra3Blue1Brown · 6 HN recommenders · 2016–2025
• explainerAll the Numbers - NumberphileNumberphile · 6 HN recommenders · 2019–2025
• interviewHow Big is Graham's Number? (feat Ron Graham)Numberphile · 4 HN recommenders · 2014–2024
• explainerVisualizing the 4d numbers Quaternions3Blue1Brown · 6 HN recommenders · 2018–2023
• coursePythagoras' theorem (a) | Math History | NJ WildbergerInsights into Mathematics · 6 HN recommenders · 2014–2024
• talkWhy can't you multiply vectors?Freya Holmér · 9 HN recommenders · 2023–2025
• explainerRamanujan: Making sense of 1+2+3+... = -1/12 and Co.Mathologer · 3 HN recommenders · 2016–2024
• talkTaking Vector Transposes Seriously | Jiahao Chen | JuliaCon 2017The Julia Programming Language · 3 HN recommenders · 2018–2022
• lectureArithmetic, Population and Energy - a talk by Al BartlettlXlSalemlXl · 6 HN recommenders · 2016–2023
• explainerWhat does it feel like to invent math?3Blue1Brown · 6 HN recommenders · 2016–2024
• explainerBut what is the Riemann zeta function? Visualizing analytic continuation3Blue1Brown · 6 HN recommenders · 2017–2023
• explainerWho cares about topology? (Old version)3Blue1Brown · 4 HN recommenders · 2017–2020
• courseSpecial Topics - The Kalman Filter (1 of 55) What is a Kalman Filter?Michel van Biezen · 5 HN recommenders · 2017–2025
• explainerWhy do prime numbers make these spirals? | Dirichlet’s theorem and pi approximations3Blue1Brown · 7 HN recommenders · 2019–2024
• talk[JSConfUS 2013] Steven Wittens: Making WebGL DanceJSConf · 5 HN recommenders · 2013–2021
• explainerHow To Count Past InfinityVsauce · 6 HN recommenders · 2016–2022
• lectureExponential Growth Arithmetic, Population and Energy, Dr. Albert A. BartlettHiroob · 5 HN recommenders · 2019–2021
• explainerThis equation will change how you see the world (the logistic map)Veritasium · 4 HN recommenders · 2020–2023
• lecturePreface | MIT Calculus Revisited: Single Variable CalculusMIT OpenCourseWare · 4 HN recommenders · 2017–2025
• explainerThe Map of MathematicsDomain of Science · 4 HN recommenders · 2018–2022
• explainera better way to countjan Misali · 3 HN recommenders · 2018–2025
• explainerBut what is a Fourier series? From heat flow to drawing with circles | DE43Blue1Brown · 4 HN recommenders · 2020–2025
• explainerTriangle of Power3Blue1Brown · 5 HN recommenders · 2016–2023
• explainerThe Golden Ratio (why it is so irrational) - NumberphileNumberphile · 3 HN recommenders · 2018–2026
• lectureReal Analysis, Lecture 1: Constructing the Rational NumbersHarveyMuddCollegeEDU · 5 HN recommenders · 2018–2024
• explainerHilbert's Curve: Is infinite math useful?3Blue1Brown · 4 HN recommenders · 2017–2024
• explainerThe Infinite Pattern That Never RepeatsVeritasium · 4 HN recommenders · 2021–2023
• explainerCarl Sagan - Cosmos - Eratosthenescarlsagandotcom · 4 HN recommenders · 2022–2024
• explainerHow Imaginary Numbers Were InventedVeritasium · 7 HN recommenders · 2021–2023
• talkThe Simple Essence of Automatic Differentiation - Conal ElliottMicrosoft Research · 3 HN recommenders · 2018–2023
• explainere^(iπ) in 3.14 minutes, using dynamics | DE53Blue1Brown · 4 HN recommenders · 2020–2021
• talkFour Dimensional Maths: Things to See and Hear in the Fourth Dimension - with Matt ParkerThe Royal Institution · 3 HN recommenders · 2017–2022
• explainerFantastic Quaternions - NumberphileNumberphile · 3 HN recommenders · 2016–2018
• explainerPi hiding in prime regularities3Blue1Brown · 3 HN recommenders · 2017–2019
• explainerGraham's Number - NumberphileNumberphile · 4 HN recommenders · 2013–2024
• explainerNumberphile v. Math: the truth about 1+2+3+...=-1/12Mathologer · 4 HN recommenders · 2020–2023
• explainerTimes Tables, Mandelbrot and the Heart of MathematicsMathologer · 4 HN recommenders · 2017–2023
• explainerDo Complex Numbers Exist?Sabine Hossenfelder · 3 HN recommenders · 2021–2023
• lectureCosmos - Carl Sagan - 4th Dimensioncarlsagandotcom · 3 HN recommenders · 2014–2025
• explainerHACKENBUSH: a window to a new world of mathOwen Maitzen · 3 HN recommenders · 2022–2025
• lecture1. A strange determinantTimothy Gowers · 3 HN recommenders · 2022–2026
• explainerPi and the Mandelbrot Set - NumberphileNumberphile · 3 HN recommenders · 2017–2019
• explainerEuler's formula with introductory group theory3Blue1Brown · 3 HN recommenders · 2017–2024
• lectureHamming, "n-Dimensional Space" (April 14, 1995)securitylectures · 3 HN recommenders · 2022–2024
• lectureLecture 7: Introduction to Galois Fields for the AES by Christof PaarIntroduction to Cryptography by Christof Paar · 3 HN recommenders · 2017–2020
• explainerInfinite fractions and the most irrational numberMathologer · 3 HN recommenders · 2019–2026
• demoHyperbolica: A Non-Euclidean Adventure [Old Trailer]CodeParade · 3 HN recommenders · 2021–2023
• lectureLec 1 | MIT 6.042J Mathematics for Computer Science, Fall 2010MIT OpenCourseWare · 3 HN recommenders · 2017–2018
• lectureWhat if Current Foundations of Mathematics are Inconsistent? | Vladimir VoevodskyInstitute for Advanced Study · 3 HN recommenders · 2017–2019
• lectureStanford Seminar: Beyond Floating Point: Next Generation Computer ArithmeticStanford Online · 5 HN recommenders · 2017–2021
• explainerHow Many Holes Does a Human Have?Vsauce · 3 HN recommenders · 2021–2024
• talkCategory Theory in Life - Eugenia ChengLambda World · 3 HN recommenders · 2019–2022
• lectureThe Hyperbolic Geometry of DMT Experiences (@Harvard Science of Psychedelics Club)Qualia Research Institute · 3 HN recommenders · 2021–2023
• talkCategory Theory by Tom LaGattaAI Council · 3 HN recommenders · 2014–2017
• courseThe Maths of General Relativity (1/8) - Spacetime and WorldlinesScienceClic English · 3 HN recommenders · 2021–2023
• lectureLecture 1 | Convex Optimization I (Stanford)Stanford · 2 HN recommenders · 2011–2022
• explainerASTOUNDING: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + ... = -1/12Numberphile · 3 HN recommenders · 2014–2023
• tutorialA simple trick to design your own solutions for Rubik's cubesMathologer · 3 HN recommenders · 2019–2022
• podcastEric Weinstein: Revolutionary Ideas in Science, Math, and Society | Lex Fridman Podcast #16Lex Fridman · 2 HN recommenders · 2019–2019
• explainerSloane's Gap - NumberphileNumberphile · 2 HN recommenders · 2013–2019
• explainerStrange Spheres in Higher Dimensions - NumberphileNumberphile · 2 HN recommenders · 2020–2025
• interviewFeynman: Mathematicians versus PhysicistsTehPhysicalist · 2 HN recommenders · 2014–2022
• explainerPentagons Are Terrible at One ThingCGP Grey · 2 HN recommenders · 2020–2022
• interviewGregory Chaitin - Is Mathematics Invented or Discovered?Closer To Truth · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2021
• explainer5040 and other Anti-Prime Numbers - NumberphileNumberphile · 1 HN recommender · 2018–2024
• interviewKlein Bottles - NumberphileNumberphile · 1 HN recommender · 2015–2022
• lectureWhat is Euler's formula actually saying? | Ep. 4 Lockdown live math3Blue1Brown · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2023
• explainerThe Trinity Hall Prime - NumberphileNumberphile · 1 HN recommender · 2017–2020
• explainerGroup theory, abstraction, and the 196,883-dimensional monster3Blue1Brown · 1 HN recommender · 2021–2023
• lectureFive Stages of Accepting Constructive Mathematics - Andrej BauerInstitute for Advanced Study · 1 HN recommender · 2018–2026
• explainerWhy is there no equation for the perimeter of an ellipse‽Stand-up Maths · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2023
• talkCategory Theory, The essence of interface-based design - Erik MeijerFooCafe · 1 HN recommender · 2016–2022
• interviewThe mathematician who cracked Wall Street | Jim SimonsTED · 1 HN recommender · 2019–2024
• lectureFeynman: 'Greek' versus 'Babylonian' mathematicsTehPhysicalist · 2 HN recommenders · 2015–2023
• explainerThe Uncracked Problem with 33 - NumberphileNumberphile · 1 HN recommender · 2019–2023