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Math 10: Mathematician 'Geneology'

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
  1. The Ancient Greeks:  Thales, Pythagoras, Euclid
  2. The Later Greeks:  Plato, Apollonius, Archimedes
  3. The Alexandrians:  Diophantus, Pappus, Hypatia
  4. Eastern Mathematicians 1:  Fibonacci,  al-Khwarizmi, Aryabhata
  5. Eastern Mathematicians 2:  Brahmagupta, Khayyám, Al-Khwarizmi
  6. Early Algebra:  the Rhind papyrus, Diophantus, Tartaglia, Viète
  7. French Mathematicians Descartes, Pascal, Galois , Desargues, Fermat
  8. Calculus 1:  Pascal, Newton, Leibniz
  9. Calculus 2:  Cauchy, Gauss, Riemann, Weierstrass
  10. Non-Euclidian Geometries:  Bolyai, Lobachevsky
  11. Modern Mathematicians 1: Hilbert, Einstein, Hawking
  12. Modern Mathematicians 2: Nash, Shing-Tung Yau; Fan Chung;
  13. 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
  14. Early Computers: A. Lovelace; G.M. Hopper; A Turing
  15. Measurement:  calendars, clocks, weights & measures (ie: imperial, metric, medieval

Try these terrific resources:

A

 

 

MtMACTUTOR HISTORY OF MATHEMATICS

 

Note-taking template

 

Cut-& paste notes & images here

Your own words

Source of information -be honest! use this.....

C

 

Name of Mathematician or Group

 

 

 

Date of birth & death

 

 

 

 

Biography: born where, when, education

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discovery /why famous

 

 

 

 

 

Significance of discovery /

Contribution to the development of mathematics

 

 

 

 

 

 

How it laid foundation for future discoveries