Introduction to the History of Mathematics – MATH 345

CG • Section 8WK • 07/01/2018 to 12/31/2199 • Modified 09/05/2023

Course Description

This course covers major events in the evolution of mathematical thought from ancient times to the present.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale

A study of the History of Mathematics provides students an opportunity to study the historical development of mathematics, develop an appreciation of mathematics, and discover how mathematical structure and exactitude have developed over time.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

Course Requirement Checklist

After reading the Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (3)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to provide a thread in response to the provided prompt for each thread. The discussions give the student the opportunity to debate issues arising from our historical survey, including the relevance of ancient contributions and the interplay of culture and mathematics. Specifically, the student is asked to consider and evaluate the impact of a Christian worldview on historical developments. Threads must be at least 100 words. (CLOs: CLO 2, 3, 4FSLOs: TSQR 4).

Homework Assignments (8)

The student will complete a homework assignment for each module in the Learning Management System that is associated with the course textbook. Typically, assignments will cover 2 or 3 chapters from the textbook, depending on the chapter’s length and difficulty.  (CLOs: CLO 1, 2, 3, 4; FSLOs: TSQR 1, 2).

Mathematician Report Assignment

The student will select a mathematician and write 4 – 5 page papers that give a brief biographical sketch of their subject.  Besides providing the highlights of his/her life, the paper will summarize his/her mathematical (and other) contributions.  Finally, each paper will include a mathematical section illustrating the genius of the subject of his/her report.  (CLOs: CLO 1, 2, 3, 4; FSLOs: TSQR 1, 2).

Period Overview Video Assignments (4)

Each presentation will summarize the flow of the historical developments of mathematics over the course of 2 course modules. The student will balance comprehensiveness with brevity to bring out the truly impactful contributions of each era. Video presentations of 5-10 minutes in length will present these summaries in an engaging fashion to make the mathematical narrative relevant and fascinating. The student will also prepare brief slide presentations of 4-7 slides that integrate mathematical developments with the story of the larger societies within which these were made.  (CLOs: CLO 2, 3, 4; FSLOs: TSQR 1, 2).

Research Paper Assignment

The student will write a topic-oriented paper that delves more deeply into a mathematical area of interest. Primarily, the goal will be to develop and explain a topic at the level of an advanced high school class. It should include mathematics beyond basic high school math, but should include illustrations and examples that make the subject understandable. Secondarily, the paper needs to include a significant historical narrative of how and why the mathematics were originally developed. Prior to completion, an outline will be submitted to give the student preliminary feedback and direction from the professor. Paper must be APA and 6-10 pages long. (CLOs: CLO 1, 2, 3, 4; FSLOs: TSQR 1, 2).