Mathematics Pre-May Seminar

Math 250, Spring 2003

Mondays 7-10 pm, Ivers 221


Professor:
Douglas Anderson, Ph.D.
Ivers 234E
299-4453
andersod@cord.edu

Office Hours: Tuesday 1-3:30 and Thursday 1-3:30; other times by discovery.

Course Objectives: Mathematics 250 is required for students going on the Math May Seminar, Math 300X. The primary aim of this course is to prepare ourselves as carefully and completely as possible to see and understand when we travel abroad. This will include examining the philosophical and historical background of the sites we visit, exploring the scientific and religious worldview of the cultures that produced the sites, and the ways in which they influence us today. We all must feel obligated to contribute to the discussion of issues; open disagreement is welcome. Each student researches two topics and delivers two 15-minute oral presentations, one here in class, one on site abroad. Additionally, students will form research groups by country to serve as itinerary planners and guides. A class travel book will be printed for everyone, consisting of papers, maps, diagrams, and outlines explaining the history, architecture, layout, and so on of the sites.

Texts:
Mathematics in Western Culture by Morris Kline
Copenhagen by Michael Frayn
Art & Physics by Leonard Shlain
Longitude by Dava Sobel (for Math 300).
Grading:
Two Research Projects: One as Presentation, One as Paper 25%
Weekly Short Papers, Assigned Problems 25%
Book Review 25%
Participation in Class Discussions, Attendance 25%
Related Sites:
Trip Itinerary: Daily (tentative) schedule for May 2003
Math May Seminar Links: Sites ranging from readings to weather
Math May Sem Homepage: Full menu of links

DATE MONDAY SCHEDULE (Tentative)
January 13 Introductions; The Greeks
January 20 Discuss Kline I-V; Survey of Ancient Egyptian History; Counting and Numbers; Pyramids
January 27 Discuss Kline VI-X; Luther; Greek Mathematics; Ptolemaic Models; Hatshepsut
February 3 Discuss Kline XI-XV; Schliemann; Aswan High Dam
February 10 Discuss Kline XVI-XX; Galileo's Battle for the Heavens
February 17 Discuss Kline XXI-XXIII, XXV; Galileo articles; Obelisks
February 24 Discuss Kline XXVI-XXVIII; Stonehenge
March 3 Spring Break (No Class)
March 10 Discuss Copenhagen; Science and Religion; Copenhagen
March 17 Discuss Shlain 1-9; Stonehenge article; Tutankhamen
March 24 Discuss Shlain 10-16; Renaissance Florence
March 31 Discuss Shlain 17-22; Michelangelo, the Medici; The Vatican
April 7 Discuss Shlain 23-29; Monge and Fourier article; Ramses II
April 14 Presentations; Colosseum
April 21 Easter Monday (No Class)
April 28 Presentations

  • Douglas Anderson's home page.
  • Mathematics and Computer Science home page.
  • Concordia College home page.