| Professor: | |
| Douglas Anderson, Ph.D. | |
| Ivers 234G | |
| 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 the relevance of mathematics when we travel abroad. This will include examining the historical and cultural 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 will answer the question, "Where is the mathematics?" from simple currency and modular clock arithmetic to the use of geometry in art, group theory in design, and statistics in government. 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 a sketch from math history, one site based. 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: | ||
| Math through the Ages by William P. Berlinghoff and Fernando Q. Gouvea | ||
| Groups and Symmetry by David W. Farmer | ||
| The Golden Ratio by Mario Livio | ||
| Longitude by Dava Sobel (for Math 300). |
| Grading: | ||
| Two Presentations: Ages sketch; Country report | 25% | |
| Math-related Problems | 50% | |
| Written Assignments | 15% | |
| Math Journal | 5% | |
| Participation in Class Discussions, Attendance | 5% |
| Related Sites: | |
| Earliest Uses of Various Mathematical Symbols, maintained by Jeff Miller, based on A History of Mathematical Notations by Florian Cajori. | |
| Earliest Known Uses of some of the Words of Mathematics, also maintained by Jeff Miller. | |
| The MacTutor History of Mathematics, Archive. | |
| The History of Mathematics maintained by David R. Wilkins. | |
| The Math Forum @ Drexel. | |
| The Cayley Quilt Maker: Math Art Posters. | |
| Concordia Math's Trip Itinerary: Daily (tentative) schedule for May 2005 | |
| Concordia Math May Seminar Links: Sites ranging from readings to weather | |
| Concordia Math May Sem Homepage: Full menu of links |
| DATE | CLASS SCHEDULE (Tentative) |
| January 3 | Introductions, Egyptian History, Pyramids. |
| Read Ages 5-60, Symmetry 1.1 & 1.2 | |
| January 13 | Kristen: Sketch 1, Aaron: Sketch 2; Obelisk. |
| Read Golden Ratio 1-24, Symmetry 1.3 & 1.4. Do Ages 1,2,3 & 1,6 | |
| January 20 | Lindsay: Sketch 4, Jennifer: Sketch 5; Tutankhamun. |
| Read Golden Ratio 24-51, Symmetry 2.1 & 2.2. Do Ages 1,2,3 & 5 | |
| January 27 | Sarah: Sketch 6, Megan: Sketch 7; Stars; The Greeks, Part I. |
| Read Golden Ratio 51-75, Symmetry 2.3 & 2.4. Do Ages 1,2 & 1,2,3 | |
| February 3 | Lauren: Sketch 8, Sandra: Sketch 9; The Greeks, Part II. |
| Read Golden Ratio 75-100, Symmetry 2.5 & 3.1. Do Ages 1,2,5,6 & 1,2,3,7 | |
| February 10 | Abbey: Sketch 10, Dane: Sketch 11; The Greeks, Part III. |
| Read Golden Ratio 101-123, Symmetry 3.2 & 3.3. Do Ages 2,3 & 3,6 | |
| February 17 | Katie: Sketch 12, Angie: Sketch 14; Colosseum. |
| Read Golden Ratio 124-158, Symmetry 3.4 & 3.5. Do Symmetry 3.2: 1,4,5,8-14; 3.3.1 | |
| February 24 | Spring Break (No Class) |
| March 3 | Baret: Sketch 15; Infinite Secrets: Archimedes. |
| Read Golden Ratio 159-178, Symmetry 4.1 & 4.2. Read Galileo packet, write 1-2 page response. | |
| March 10 | Lindsey: Sketch 21; Science and Religion discussion; Hatshepsut |
| Read Golden Ratio 178-200, Symmetry 5.1 & 5.2, Stonehenge article. Do Ages 3,4 & 2ab,4 | |
| March 17 | Kevin: Sketch 22, Matt: Sketch 23; Stonehenge |
| Read Golden Ratio 201-226, Symmetry 5.3 & 5.4, Michelangelo article. Do Ages 1,2 | |
| March 24 | Maundy Thursday (No Class) |
| March 31 | CCAngel student photo journal management; Florence, the Power of the Past. |
| Read Golden Ratio 226-253, Symmetry 5.5 & 5.6 | |
| April 7 | Country Presentations: Egypt and Greece. |
| April 14 | Country Presentations: Greece and Italy. |
| April 21 | Country Presentations: Italy, Paris, and London. |