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Best Recreational & visual math videos, as recommended on Hacker News

135 videos about recreational & visual math that Hacker News commenters keep recommending, mentioned between 2010 and 2026. Mostly explainer, interview, demo. Channels that come up most: 3Blue1Brown, Numberphile, Stand-up Maths, Veritasium. 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
• explainerBut what is a neural network? | Deep learning chapter 13Blue1Brown · 16 HN recommenders · 2017–2025
• explainerThe Beauty of Bézier CurvesFreya Holmér · 16 HN recommenders · 2021–2026
• explainerThe Continuity of SplinesFreya Holmér · 10 HN recommenders · 2022–2026
• interviewJim Simons (full length interview) - NumberphileNumberphile2 · 11 HN recommenders · 2015–2024
• explainerBut how does bitcoin actually work?3Blue1Brown · 15 HN recommenders · 2017–2024
• demoConway's Game Of Life in APLDyalog · 11 HN recommenders · 2010–2024
• courseThe essence of calculus3Blue1Brown · 10 HN recommenders · 2017–2025
• interviewThe man with 1,000 Klein Bottles UNDER his house - NumberphileNumberphile · 8 HN recommenders · 2015–2024
• 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
• explainerMath's Fundamental FlawVeritasium · 7 HN recommenders · 2021–2024
• 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
• explainerEigenvectors and eigenvalues | Chapter 14, Essence of linear algebra3Blue1Brown · 6 HN recommenders · 2016–2025
• demoLife in lifePhillip Bradbury · 6 HN recommenders · 2013–2025
• explainerAll the Numbers - NumberphileNumberphile · 6 HN recommenders · 2019–2025
• interviewHow Big is Graham's Number? (feat Ron Graham)Numberphile · 4 HN recommenders · 2014–2024
• explainerThe more general uncertainty principle, regarding Fourier transforms3Blue1Brown · 7 HN recommenders · 2019–2025
• explainerVisualizing the 4d numbers Quaternions3Blue1Brown · 6 HN recommenders · 2018–2023
• explainerDo Chairs Exist?Vsauce · 6 HN recommenders · 2021–2025
• 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
• lectureStanford Lecture: Don Knuth—"A Conjecture That Had To Be True" (2017)Stanford Online · 1 HN recommender · 2017–2023
• explainerWhat does it feel like to invent math?3Blue1Brown · 6 HN recommenders · 2016–2024
• explainerP vs. NP and the Computational Complexity Zoohackerdashery · 4 HN recommenders · 2015–2026
• explainerSimulating an epidemic3Blue1Brown · 8 HN recommenders · 2020–2023
• 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
• explainerWhy do prime numbers make these spirals? | Dirichlet’s theorem and pi approximations3Blue1Brown · 7 HN recommenders · 2019–2024
• explainerHow To Count Past InfinityVsauce · 6 HN recommenders · 2016–2022
• explainerThis equation will change how you see the world (the logistic map)Veritasium · 4 HN recommenders · 2020–2023
• explainerWas YOUR vote counted? (feat. homomorphic encryption) - NumberphileNumberphile · 5 HN recommenders · 2016–2024
• 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
• explainerBell's Theorem: The Quantum Venn Diagram Paradoxminutephysics · 8 HN recommenders · 2019–2024
• explainerWhy is TV 29.97 frames per second?Stand-up Maths · 4 HN recommenders · 2016–2025
• explainerHilbert's Curve: Is infinite math useful?3Blue1Brown · 4 HN recommenders · 2017–2024
• explainerThe Infinite Pattern That Never RepeatsVeritasium · 4 HN recommenders · 2021–2023
• explainerThe Mathematics of Quantum Computers | Infinite SeriesPBS Infinite Series · 4 HN recommenders · 2017–2023
• demoSmoothLifeLTim Hutton · 4 HN recommenders · 2012–2022
• explainerBut what are Hamming codes? The origin of error correction3Blue1Brown · 4 HN recommenders · 2020–2023
• explainerHow Imaginary Numbers Were InventedVeritasium · 7 HN recommenders · 2021–2023
• explainerInfinity is bigger than you think - NumberphileNumberphile · 3 HN recommenders · 2014–2022
• explainerThe medical test paradox, and redesigning Bayes' rule3Blue1Brown · 4 HN recommenders · 2020–2025
• 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
• explainerFlaw in the Enigma Code - NumberphileNumberphile · 4 HN recommenders · 2013–2025
• 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
• explainerThe Zipf MysteryVsauce · 4 HN recommenders · 2018–2024
• explainerAnagrams, but where you can break apart letters: "Anagraphs"suckerpinch · 3 HN recommenders · 2020–2023
• explainerTimes Tables, Mandelbrot and the Heart of MathematicsMathologer · 4 HN recommenders · 2017–2023
• explainerRandomness is Random - NumberphileNumberphile · 4 HN recommenders · 2019–2022
• explainerHow are holograms possible?3Blue1Brown · 3 HN recommenders · 2024–2025
• lectureMath Encounters -- Five Balls, Two Hands: The Patterns of Juggling -- Colin Wright (Presentation)National Museum of Mathematics · 3 HN recommenders · 2017–2026
• talkNew Horizons in Music: Polyrhythms | LoopAbleton · 3 HN recommenders · 2018–2023
• explainerHow secure is 256 bit security?3Blue1Brown · 2 HN recommenders · 2020–2023
• 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
• demoHow I animate 3Blue1Brown | A Manim demo with Ben Sparks3Blue1Brown · 3 HN recommenders · 2024–2026
• explainerWhy It's Impossible to Tune a Pianominutephysics · 2 HN recommenders · 2015–2026
• explainerA Million Dollars vs A Billion Dollars, Visualized: A Road TripTom Scott · 3 HN recommenders · 2021–2026
• interviewThe Best (and Worst) Ways to Shuffle Cards - NumberphileNumberphile · 3 HN recommenders · 2015–2026
• explainerInfinite fractions and the most irrational numberMathologer · 3 HN recommenders · 2019–2026
• explainerDoes "land area" assume a country is perfectly flat?Stand-up Maths · 3 HN recommenders · 2020–2023
• demoPtolemy and Homer (Simpson)Santiago Ginnobili · 3 HN recommenders · 2013–2022
• explainerTerence Tao on the cosmic distance ladder3Blue1Brown · 2 HN recommenders · 2025–2026
• 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
• explainerA4 Paper Is Too PerfectCGP Grey · 2 HN recommenders · 2024–2026
• explainerReynolds Number - NumberphileNumberphile · 3 HN recommenders · 2019–2021
• explainerSpherical Geometry Is Stranger Than Hyperbolic - Hyperbolica Devlog #2CodeParade · 3 HN recommenders · 2021–2026
• explainerBayes theorem, the geometry of changing beliefs3Blue1Brown · 2 HN recommenders · 2022–2024
• explainerWhy is this number everywhere?Veritasium · 2 HN recommenders · 2024–2026
• interviewSurreal Numbers (writing the first book) - NumberphileNumberphile · 3 HN recommenders · 2016–2022
• explainerExtremely Large Numbers 1 - IntroductionGiroux Studios · 2 HN recommenders · 2016–2022
• 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
• talkWhat Happens When Maths Goes Wrong? - with Matt ParkerThe Royal Institution · 2 HN recommenders · 2020–2024
• explainerMath MagicVsauce · 2 HN recommenders · 2016–2024
• explainerMENACE: the pile of matchboxes which can learnStand-up Maths · 2 HN recommenders · 2018–2026
• comedyStand-up comedy routine about SpreadsheetsStand-up Maths · 2 HN recommenders · 2018–2025
• explainerSloane's Gap - NumberphileNumberphile · 2 HN recommenders · 2013–2019
• explainerDo these scatter plots reveal fraudulent vote-switching in Michigan?Stand-up Maths · 4 HN recommenders · 2020–2021
• explainerHow We Should Vote (Range Voting)Undefined Behavior · 3 HN recommenders · 2017–2019
• explainerWhy do Biden's votes not follow Benford's Law?Stand-up Maths · 2 HN recommenders · 2020–2024
• explainerStrange Spheres in Higher Dimensions - NumberphileNumberphile · 2 HN recommenders · 2020–2025
• lectureClutching at Random Straws, Matt Parker | LMS Popular Lectures 2010London Mathematical Society · 2 HN recommenders · 2017–2024
• explainerBackpropagation calculus | Deep Learning Chapter 43Blue1Brown · 3 HN recommenders · 2017–2024
• explainerPentagons Are Terrible at One ThingCGP Grey · 2 HN recommenders · 2020–2022
• explainerThe Josephus Problem - NumberphileNumberphile · 2 HN recommenders · 2018–2022
• explainerSolving Wordle using information theory3Blue1Brown · 2 HN recommenders · 2022–2024
• explainerAn astonishing old calculator - NumberphileNumberphile · 1 HN recommender · 2017–2023
• explainer5040 and other Anti-Prime Numbers - NumberphileNumberphile · 1 HN recommender · 2018–2024
• interviewKlein Bottles - NumberphileNumberphile · 1 HN recommender · 2015–2022
• explainerExponential growth and epidemics3Blue1Brown · 10 HN recommenders · 2020–2020
• explainerSome light quantum mechanics (with minutephysics)3Blue1Brown · 2 HN recommenders · 2020–2022
• explainerHow An Infinite Hotel Ran Out Of RoomVeritasium · 1 HN recommender · 2021–2022
• 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
• demoDeepest Mandelbrot Set Zoom Animation ever - a New Record! 10^275 (2.1E275 or 2^915)Orson Wang · 1 HN recommender · 2016–2025
• explainerWhy is there no equation for the perimeter of an ellipse‽Stand-up Maths · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2023
• explainerDarts in Higher Dimensions (with 3blue1brown) - NumberphileNumberphile · 1 HN recommender · 2021–2023
• explainerWhy do people keep getting this wrong‽Stand-up Maths · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2025
• explainerThe Unbeatable Game from the 60s: Dr NIMStand-up Maths · 1 HN recommender · 2016–2023
• explainerHow big is a billion? - NumberphileNumberphile · 1 HN recommender · 2014–2024
• interviewDoes John Conway hate his Game of Life?Numberphile · 1 HN recommender · 2015–2024
• explainerThe Strange Math That Predicts (Almost) AnythingVeritasium · 1 HN recommender · 2025–2025
• documentaryWhy the World’s Best Mathematicians Are Hoarding ChalkGreat Big Story · 1 HN recommender · 2019–2023
• explainerWhat is PLUS times PLUS?2swap · 1 HN recommender · 2025–2026
• explainerBase 12 - NumberphileNumberphile · 1 HN recommender · 2013–2020
• explainerSomeone improved my code by 40,832,277,770%Stand-up Maths · 1 HN recommender · 2022–2023
• explainerCalculating a Car Crash - NumberphileNumberphile · 1 HN recommender · 2018–2026
• explainerBBC - The Code - The Wisdom of the Crowdtimb6 · 1 HN recommender · 2013–2016
• explainerBertrand's Paradox (with 3blue1brown) - NumberphileNumberphile · 1 HN recommender · 2022–2024
• explainerWhy do YouTube views freeze at 301?Numberphile · 1 HN recommender · 2012–2025
• explainerEpicycles, complex Fourier series and Homer Simpson's orbitMathologer · 1 HN recommender · 2022–2023
• comedyMatematikrevyen 2011: Banach-TarskiMatematikrevyen · 1 HN recommender · 2012–2024
• explainerI built a QR code with my bare hands to see how it worksVeritasium · 1 HN recommender · 2024–2025
• explainerThe Uncracked Problem with 33 - NumberphileNumberphile · 1 HN recommender · 2019–2023