Math 7603-01
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: 770-838-3284
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)
7.
The
student will show how and why the history of mathematics can be incorporated
into the modern classroom. (L4, L5, L14, L15)
Assessment:
10-12
Short
in-class Responses
These will be one to five
sentences written in response 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 relate 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. Hands 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).
1 Example of using History of Mathematics in a
traditional mathematics class. This
should be of 10-15 minute duration.
Emphasis should be placed on how you as a teacher can incorporate
historical commentary into a lesson in a mathematics class that you teach or
will teach. 0-10 points will be given
for the presentation and 0-5points for the write-up of the presentation.
References are required. Hands 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.
Your
course grade is based on these 7 parts as follows:
Short in-class Responses 5%
Test 1 15%
Test 2 15%
Final 15%
Presentations and write-ups 15%
Paper 20%
Lesson 15%
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 10-April 28 Lesson Presentations (Write-up due the following week.)
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