Ed Sheeran and the mathematics of musical coincidences
After beating a plagiarism claim in court, musician Ed Sheeran said musical coincidences are inevitable… but what do the numbers say?
After beating a plagiarism claim in court, musician Ed Sheeran said that musical coincidences were inevitable with only 12 notes to choose from… but what do the numbers say?
Mathematician and concert pianist Eugenia Cheng takes us through the mathematics of music and explains how the power of exponentials mean that just a handful of notes can open up a seemingly endless world of musical variety.
Presenter: Tim Harford
Producer: Nathan Gower
Programme Coordinator: Janet Staples
Sound Engineer: Neil Churchill
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- Sat 25 Jun 202204:50GMTBBC World Service
- Sat 25 Jun 202222:50GMTBBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean
- Sat 25 Jun 202223:50GMTBBC World Service Online, UK DAB/Freeview, News Internet & Europe and the Middle East only
- Sun 26 Jun 202200:50GMTBBC World Service South Asia & East Asia only
- Sun 26 Jun 202213:50GMTBBC World Service Australasia & News Internet only
- Sun 26 Jun 202222:50GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Mon 27 Jun 202209:50GMTBBC World Service
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Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics used in everyday life.
