| MOUNT SAINT VINCENT UNIVERSITY COURSE OUTLINE January, 2009
1. Course: Math 2245 History of Mathematics I 2. Instructor: Charles Edmunds Office: Evaristus 379 Website: http://geocities.com/ce3927 3. Timetable: M, W 12:30 � 1:45 4. Text: An Introduction to the History of Mathematics (6th Ed.) by H. Eves 5. Marking: 10 Weekly Reports .................................(approx.) 1% each 10% Due weekly Papers #1 (750 words) ............................................(approx.) 12% Due Feb 2 1 Midterm Exam.......................................................(approx.) 20% TBA Paper #2 (1000 words)...........................................(approx.) 18% Due March 18 1 Final Paper (2000 words).......... ...........................(approx.) 35% Due April 14 Instructor's Evaluation .............. (approx.) 5% TOTAL....100% Weekly Reports: Weekly reports will summarize your progress and reactions to assigned reading from the text and other outside readings. You will also report on topic and selection of resource material for papers and any questions and/or comments you may have about the class, your readings, or papers. Since these are topical, they will not be accepted more than one week late. Papers: The first paper will be a biography on an assigned mathematician. Choose from: Pythagoras, Euclid, Archimedes, Diophantus, Fibonacci, Tartaglia, Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, Fermat, Pascal, Descartes, Newton, and Leibnitz . The topic of the second paper is to be determined in consultation with the instructor. In these two papers you must quote from at least four sources two of which must not be an encyclopaedia type source or a general history of mathematics. The two papers must be handed no more than one week after their due dates. The final paper can be on any topic mutually agreed upon by the student and instructor. Ideally this should be developed on a common theme and involve at least three different periods in history. It must quote from at least five different sources three of which must not be encyclopaedias or general mathematics histories. 6. Content: Chapters 1 - 10 in the text. We will also discuss some modern topics. Chronology 1. The Neolithic and the foundations of counting and arithmetic. 2. Egyptian and Babylonian mathematics. 3. Early Hellenic mathematics (from Thales to Pythagoras). 4. Hellenic mathematics in the age of Socrates. 5. Hellenistic mathematics: the Alexandrians (Euclid to Archimedes) 6. Ancient views of astronomy, astrology, and cosmology (Ptolemy) 7. Later Hellenistic mathematics (Diophantus and Hypatia) 8. Chinese, and Indian mathematics (Brahmagupta) 9. Mathematics in the Middle Ages (Fibonacci) 10. Early Renaissance mathematics (Tartaglia, Vieta, and Cardano) 11. The Sixteenth Century (Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo) 12. The Seventeenth Century (Fermat, Descartes, Newton) Synthesis A number of general questions will be addressed in the course. What IS mathematics? Mathematical truth: absolute or relative? Is mathematics real or imaginary? (Platonic Idealism) Mathematics: discovery or invention? How much influence does the spirit of the times have on mathematical invention? Is mathematics a human endeavour like the arts and literature, or does it have a different nature. Why is the same mathematics invented by different cultures? How do the different approaches to mathematics reflect the cultures within which they develop? Is mathematic only the work of gifted individuals? Where are the women in the history of mathematics? What is the "sociology" of mathematics? Can mathematics reasonably be said to be "beautiful"? Why is mathematics so �useful�? 7. Statement on the use of language: Correct use of language is one of the criteria included in the evaluation of all written assign�ments. Quality of expression in writing will count for at least 10% of all written work. This includes: 1) proper spelling, punctuation, and grammar 2) correct usage and a direct logical style 3) proper use of quotation marks, footnotes, and references to the works of others. In all written work, papers and examinations, a footnote (or endnote) must be given every time material is quoted from an outside source. Short quotes may be given in the text, but longer quotes should be indented on both margins and single spaced. All sources quoted must be included in the list of references Statement on Plagiarism and Cheating: See the professor if you are not sure what �Plagiarism� is. Students are reminded that the University regulations on Plagiar�ism and Cheating will be strictly enforce�d. These regulations are posted on departmental bulletin boards and information is also available from your professor. Professor's Statement on "from sources or in a manner disal�lowed": All materials presented for evaluation, including homework, papers, quizzes, tests, and examinations, must be solely the work of the student presenting these materials. If books, notes, or calcula�tors are to be allowed for use in an examina�tion, the professor will announce this prior to the exam and comment, in writing, on the exam paper that this is the case. When working from any source it is plagiarism to copy the exact words of that source without proper reference (usually a footnote), and it is also plagiarism to paraphrase or reword the sentences of the source without a footnote. The ideal is to read your sources, take notes, digest that information, and express those ideas in your own words when making an argument for your thesis in an essay. |