Introduction
Mathematics, like all spheres of knowledge, has a unique history of its own, built layer by layer on the discoveries and genius of the previous generation.
This video shows how mathematical thought is connected through time & space.
Assignment
- You will research one mathematician or group, gather information and key it into this note-taking template.
Don't choose just any old mathematician, but take the time to click the links to deeper information (at least 5 names or groups) and then choose one that really interests you. If you stumble upon a mathematician not listed, check with the teacher before proceeding.
- You will create a visual & spoken presentation using any medium you like; e.g. PowerPoint, Google Docs, Prezi, Glogster, or if you prefer, hand drawing on poster board. Write a lively script to explain your visuals, & do NOT read it off the screen, or your audience will fall asleep.
To gain an appreciation for the intellectual-historical process, students will deliver their presentations in chronological order, according to the birthdate of their mathematician.
Added collaborative activities
- The class will create a chronology , timeline , brainstorm graphic or virtual Inspiration visual to connect the mathematicians & their ideas.
- Class discussion: What qualities would a mathematician have to have to be declared the most important mathematician in history? Narrow it down to 4 names and have informal in class or online debates.
Choose your topic: Have a look through at least 5 topics before you choose one that really interests you.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | IJ | K | L |
M | N | O | PQ | R | S | T | UV | W | XYZ |
- The Ancient Greeks: Thales, Pythagoras, Euclid
- The Later Greeks: Plato, Apollonius, Archimedes
- The Alexandrians: Diophantus, Pappus, Hypatia
- Eastern Mathematicians 1: Fibonacci, al-Khwarizmi, Aryabhata
- Eastern Mathematicians 2: Brahmagupta, Khayyám, Al-Khwarizmi
- Early Algebra: the Rhind papyrus, Diophantus, Tartaglia, Viète
- French Mathematicians Descartes, Pascal, Galois , Desargues, Fermat
- Calculus 1: Pascal, Newton, Leibniz
- Calculus 2: Cauchy, Gauss, Riemann, Weierstrass
- Non-Euclidian Geometries: Bolyai, Lobachevsky
- Modern Mathematicians 1: Hilbert, Einstein, Hawking
- Modern Mathematicians 2: Nash, Shing-Tung Yau; Fan Chung;
- Women Mathematicians: S. Germain; M. Somerville; S.Kovalevsky; A. Noether; etc.A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
- Early Computers: A. Lovelace; G.M. Hopper; A Turing
- Measurement: calendars, clocks, weights & measures (ie: imperial, metric, medieval
Try these terrific resources:
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Academic Genealogy of Mathematicians
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A to Z of mathematicians
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Concise history of mathematics
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Great mathematicians
MACTUTOR HISTORY OF MATHEMATICS
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Cut-& paste notes & images here |
Your own words |
Source of information -be honest! use this.....
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Name of Mathematician or Group |
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Date of birth & death
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Biography: born where, when, education |
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Discovery /why famous |
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Significance of discovery / Contribution to the development of mathematics |
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How it laid foundation for future discoveries |
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