Math 4853-01W*
An Introduction to the
History of Mathematics
Mondays 5:30 pm to 8 pm
Boyd 305
Instructor: Anthony J. Giovannitti
Office: Boyd
325
Phone: 770-838-2579
FAX: 770-836-6890
Email: agiovann@westga.edu
Homepage: http://www.westga.edu/~agiovann/
Office Hours: MWF 8:30 am to 10 am and 11 am to 12 pm
M 4 pm to 5:30 pm
Tues. 9 am to 9:30 am and 11 am to 11:30 am
Or by appointment
Author & Text: Jeff
Suzuki, A History of Mathematics
Learning Objectives:
1.
The
student will state how the development of mathematics was influenced by society
and environment during various historical eras. (L4, L5, L14, L15)
2.
The
student will state how mathematics helped shape the society of various eras. (L4, L5, L14, L15)
3.
The
student will discuss how various subject fields of mathematics (including but
not limited to: Algebra, Calculus, and Geometry) became areas of interest, why
they were of interest, and who where the early leaders in the study of those
particular fields. (L4,
L5, L14, L15)
4.
The
student will use methods of specified historical eras and/or societies (e.g.,
the Egyptians, the Babylonians, and the Pythagoreans) in solving problems posed
within each society. (L4,
L5, L14, L15)
5.
The
student will discuss how the famous and/or infamous individuals in mathematics
influenced the search and development of new mathematics. (L4, L5, L14, L15)
6.
The
student will be able to write facts, arguments, and/or questions about
mathematics using correct grammatical style for both the English and
mathematical text. (L4,
L5, L14, L15)
Assessment:
10-12
Short
in-class Responses
These will be one to five
sentences written responses to questions raised in the lecture. (WTL exercises)
2
75-minute
tests during class periods.
1
Comprehensive
Final
The tests and final will include problems that use
the methodology of the various eras studied, questions involving time lines,
and essay questions that ask how the political, cultural, religious, and
economical situations affected the Mathematics of the times and vice versa.
(WTL exercises)
3-4
Short
oral presentations and write-up.
Each will be graded on a 5-point scale. The presentation will be 0-3 points and
judged on coherence and clarity of presentation as well as originality of
topic. The write-up (a WTL exercise) will be 0-2 points and graded on clarity
of style, grammar, and spelling.
References are required. Hand
written write-ups are not acceptable. A
hard copy or an e-copy using MS-Word or a mutually acceptable word-processing
file is expected.
1
Paper
5-7 pages in length. (Illustrations and
graphs not to be included in the page count.) (WTC exercise) The paper should
be typed or printed. The text should be
double spaced and using a 12pt font.
Topics may be selected from people, problems, schools or controversies
in mathematics and must have the instructors consent. The bibliography must include books, journal articles (not from
e-journals), and Web addresses (must include at least one e-journal).
Your
course grade is based on these 6 parts as follows:
Short in-class Responses 5%
Test 1 20%
Test 2 20%
Final 20%
Presentations and write-ups 15%
Paper 20%
Letter grade:
A
90>B
80>C
70>D
60>F
Dates:
January 6 First day of Class
January 13-April 28 Short Responses
January 20 Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
January 27 Topic chosen for paper.
January 27-April 21 Short Presentations (Write-up due the following week.)
February 10 Outline of paper due
February 17 Test 1
February 27 Last Day to withdraw with a
W
March 14 Math Day (No Math
Classes, Great Talks)
April 7 Rough draft of paper
due
April 14 Test 2
April 28 Last Day of Class
May 5 Final Exam 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Academic dishonesty is NOT tolerated. It will result in failure on
assignment(s) as well as possible disciplinary sanction(s) as stipulated by
university rules. State University of
West Georgia Student Conduct Code defines academic dishonesty as
cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, and facilitating or allowing academic
dishonesty in any academic exercise.
Cheating: using or attempting
to use unauthorized materials, information or study aids
Fabrication: falsification or
unauthorized invention of any information or citation
Plagiarism: representing the
words or ideas of another as one's own. Direct quotations must be indicated and
ideas of another must be appropriately acknowledged.
Academic dishonesty in any form compromises your grade and lowers the
quality of your diploma. A fellow student who cheats may actually lower your
grade, sometimes causing unfair and inflated grading scales. I hope each of you
values your college education enough to protect yourself from dishonest
classmates. If you are aware of cheating taking place, please contact Dr. Giovannitti
and proper action will be taken.
*
NOTE: A “W” designation after a section number signifies that the course is a
Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) course. WAC accepts as a guiding principle
the idea that writing is a valuable tool for learning and communication.
Therefore, the writing components of a course so designated are designed to
help you learn the material and communicate what you have learned. Students are
required to take two “W” courses for an undergraduate degree in the College of Arts
and Sciences.