It can be noted that the discipline of math has played important role in people’s lives and it has provided various useful methods to be more knowledgeable in life. Initially, even prior to the modern age and the communication of knowledge in the world arena, the written forms of new mathematical develops can only be accessed by several locales. It is known that the most ancient mathematical texts that can be accessed to is Plimpton 322, the Rhind Mathematical papyrus as well as the Moscow mathematical papyrus. The totality of these are considered the Pythagorean theorem and they are seen as the most ancient and popular mathematical development since the arithmetic and geometry (Struik, 1987). It is the purpose of this paper to inform the readers of the origin and development of mathematics, the writing and communication practice of this specific field so that valuable information can be provided to people who intend to pursue a career in this field.
To begin with, the research of mathematics as a discipline has been initiated from 6th century BC with the Pythagoreans and it is from the Greek word that the term of mathematics appeared. It should be seen that mathematics is the science of numbers and there are various other sub-branches in mathematical science such as algebra, geometry as well as calculus etc. In general, mathematics is considered the science of numbers and their operations, interconnection, integration, generalization, space configurations as well as the measurement, transformation etc. It is known that mathematics does not belong to invention as discoveries and laws of science are not thought to be inventions. The inventions are usually physical things and procedures. Nevertheless, there is relationship betw...
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...ct on the more advanced method of learning in mathematics. In order to better and quickly grasp the essence of mathematics as a discipline, it is important to enrich the disciplinary literacy of the learners which requires them not only to understand the concept and history of mathematics. They also need to develop and reflect on their own method of fulfilling mathematical tasks.
References
Struik, Dirk (1987). A Concise History of Mathematics (3rd. ed.). Courier Dover Publications.
Maurice Mashaal, (2006). Bourbaki: A Secret Society of Mathematicians. American Mathematical Society.
George Gheverghese Joseph, (1991). The Crest of the Peacock: Non-European Roots of Mathematics,Penguin Books, London
Katz, Victor J., ed. (2007). The Mathematics of Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, India, and Islam: A Sourcebook. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press
Abstract—The transition to calculus was a remarkable period in the history of mathematics and witnessed great advancements in this field. The great minds of the 17th through the 19 Centuries worked rigorously on the theory and the application of calculus. One theory started another one, and details needed justifications. In turn, this started a new mathematical era developing the incredible field of calculus on the hands of the most intelligent people of ancient times. In this paper, we focus on an amazing mathematician who excelled in pure mathematics despite his physical inability of total blindness. This mathematician is Leonard Euler.
Restivo, Sal, Jean Paul Van Bendegen, and Roland Fischer. Math Works: Philosophical and Social Studies of Mathematics and Mathematics Education. Albany, New York: State University of New York Press, 1993.
Math is the study of fact that is based on experiments, proof, and facts, but there are many fallacies that go along with it, including the ability to neglect theories. As Einstein once said “that all our math is measured against reality, is primitive and childlike - and yet the most precious thing we have” Which shows that it might have flaws but it is still so brilliant and hard to defeat. In many aspects of human behavior, the arts, ethics, religion, and emotion, are some factors that can be slightly tied into the idea of math (Einstein Exhibit). The main problem is that it might be looked down upon because it might be considered illogical. Many people believe that there are no links between these subjects and math and that they are completely opposites, unrelated in anyway. If you look hard enough there are links between math and the arts, and can be found, even if math is not open to theories.
I also learned that mathematics was more than merely an intellectual activity: it was a necessary tool for getting a grip on all sorts of problems in science and engineering. Without mathematics there is no progress. However, mathematics could also show its nasty face during periods in which problems that seemed so simple at first sight refused to be solved for a long time. Every math student will recognize these periods of frustration and helplessness.
The ancient Egyptians and ancient Greeks knew about the golden ratio, regarded as a number that can be found when a line or shape is divided into two parts so that the longer part divided by the smaller part is also equal to the whole length or shape divided by the longer part. The Ancient Greeks and Romans incorporated it and other mathematical relationships, such as the triangle with a 3:4:5 ratio, into the design of monuments including the Great Pyramid, the Colosseum, and the Parthenon. Artists who have been inspired by mathematics and studied mathematics include the Greek sculptor Polykleitos, who created a series of mathematical proportions for carving the ‘perfect’ nude male figurine. Renaissance painters such as Piero della Francesca an...
Even though Aristotle’s contributions to mathematics are significantly important and lay a strong foundation in the study and view of the science, it is imperative to mention that Aristotle, in actuality, “never devoted a treatise to philosophy of mathematics” [5]. As aforementioned, even his books never truly leaned toward a specific philosophy on mathematics, but rather a form or manner in which to attempt to understand mathematics through certain truths.
Using literacy strategies in the mathematics classroom leads to successful students. “The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM, 1989) define mathematical literacy as an “individual's ability to explore, to conjecture, and to reason logically, as well as to use a variety of mathematical methods effectively to solve problems." Exploring, making conjectures, and being able to reason logically, all stem from the early roots of literacy. Authors Matthews and Rainer (2001) discusses how teachers have questioned the system of incorporating literacy with mathematics in the last couple of years. It started from the need to develop a specific framework, which combines both literacy and mathematics together. Research was conducted through
The Scientific Revolution was sparked through Nicolaus Copernicusí unique use of mathematics. His methods developed from Greek astr...
In conclusion, it is clear that while their ancient civilization perished long ago, the contributions that the Egyptians made to mathematics have lived on. The Egyptians were practical in their approach to mathematics, and developed arithmetic and geometry in response to transactions they carried out in business and agriculture on a daily basis. Therefore, as a civilization that created hieroglyphs, the decimal system, and hieratic writing and numerals, the contributions of the Egyptians to the study of mathematics cannot and should not be overlooked.
The concept of impossible constructions in mathematics draws in a unique interest by Mathematicians wanting to find answers that none have found before them. For the Greeks, some impossible constructions weren’t actually proven at the time to be impossible, but merely so far unachieved. For them, there was excitement in the idea that they might be the first one to do so, excitement that lay in discovery. There are a few impossible constructions in Greek mathematics that will be examined in this chapter. They all share the same criteria for constructability: that they are to be made using solely a compass and straightedge, and were referred to as the three “classical problems of antiquity”. The requirements of using only a compass and straightedge were believed to have originated from Plato himself. 1
The incentive for investigating the connections between these two apparent opposites therefore is in the least obvious, and it is unclear in what aspects of both topics such a relationship could be sought after. Furthermore, if one accepts some mathematical aspects in music such as rhythm and pitch, it is far more difficult to imagine any musicality in mathematics. The count-ability and the strong order of mathematics do not seem to coincide with an artistic pattern.
Mathematics in Islamic Civilization - Dr. Ragheb Elsergany - Islam Story. (n.d.). Islam Story - Supervised by Dr. Ragheb Elsergany. Retrieved April 26, 2011, from http://en.islamstory.com/mathematics-islamic-civilization.html
As a secondary subject, society often views mathematics a critical subject for students to learn in order to be successful. Often times, mathematics serves as a gatekeeper for higher learning and certain specific careers. Since the times of Plato, “mathematics was virtually the first thing everyone has to learn…common to all arts, science, and forms of thought” (Stinson, 2004). Plato argued that all students should learn arithmetic; the advanced mathematics was reserved for those that would serve as the “philosopher guardians” of the city (Stinson, 2004). By the 1900s in the United States, mathematics found itself as a cornerstone of curriculum for students. National reports throughout the 20th Century solidified the importance of mathematics in the success of our nation and its students (Stinson, 2004). As a mathematics teacher, my role to educate all students in mathematics is an important one. My personal philosophy of mathematics education – including the optimal learning environment and best practices teaching strategies – motivates my teaching strategies in my personal classroom.
The simplest forms of equations in algebra were actually discovered 2,200 years before Mohamed was born. Ahmes wrote the Rhind Papyrus that described the Egyptian mathematic system of division and multiplication. Pythagoras, Euclid, Archimedes, Erasasth, and other great mathematicians followed Ahmes (“Letters”). Although not very important to the development of algebra, Archimedes (212BC – 281BC), a Greek mathematician, worked on calculus equations and used geometric proofs to prove the theories of mathematics (“Archimedes”).
The history of math has become an important study, from ancient to modern times it has been fundamental to advances in science, engineering, and philosophy. Mathematics started with counting. In Babylonia mathematics developed from 2000B.C. A place value notation system had evolved over a lengthy time with a number base of 60. Number problems were studied from at least 1700B.C. Systems of linear equations were studied in the context of solving number problems.