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Articles 1 - 30 of 69
Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Fourth Voices Conference On Teaching Stem With Song, Lawrence M. Lesser
Fourth Voices Conference On Teaching Stem With Song, Lawrence M. Lesser
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
The fourth VOICES (Virtual Ongoing Interdisciplinary Collaborations on Educating with Song) conference will be held September 26, 2021, with its Sunday date especially targeting those whose teaching schedule precludes attendance on a weekday. This online-only conference explores the use of song to teach STEM content at the college or secondary school level and will include reviewed interactive sessions, video-posters, and discussions of interest to both practitioners and researchers.
The Music Is All That Counts! A Poem-Collage Pair Created During The Pandemic, Sarah Glaz, Mark Sanders
The Music Is All That Counts! A Poem-Collage Pair Created During The Pandemic, Sarah Glaz, Mark Sanders
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
The poem-collage pair presented here is a work of collaboration between the mathematician and poet, Sarah Glaz, and the collage and ceramic artist, Mark Sanders. The piece is part of their larger joint poem-collage project involving the history of mathematics. Created at the height of the pandemic, the poem-collage pair reflects the reality of living during a plague and embodies the solace offered by long-distance collaboration and by the arts. Included as background is a brief discussion on the history and mathematics involved, information about Sarah’s poem and Mark’s collage, and a reflection on how the pandemic influenced both the …
An Interview With The (Other) Corona Graph, Bonnie Jacob, Jobby Jacob
An Interview With The (Other) Corona Graph, Bonnie Jacob, Jobby Jacob
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
The following is an interview, conducted in April 2021, with a graph product known as the corona graph. Disclaimer: The views expressed herein are not ours. Actually, this entire interview is fiction, other than the mathematics, of course.
Letters From Incompleteness, Jonah Howell
Letters From Incompleteness, Jonah Howell
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
In a series of letters to a faraway lover, an unnamed narrator attempts to make sense of his own internal struggles by fixating on the strange death of Kurt Gödel.
A Life Cut Short, Cacey L. Wells
A Life Cut Short, Cacey L. Wells
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
Connecting scholars and students with the human side of mathematics is critical. This poem about Évariste Galois provides a synopsis of his controversial life, while also providing details into his life that some may not be familiar with.
Asymptotic Dream, Oscar Gonzalez
Asymptotic Dream, Oscar Gonzalez
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
A love poem about breaching mathematical limits, inspired by the tragic beauty of calculus.
Train Algebra, Mary Soon Lee
Mathematical Poetry In The Time Of Covid
Mathematical Poetry In The Time Of Covid
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected mathematicians and teachers in many ways. In our January 2021 issue, we invited our community to submit essays and reflections, as well as fiction and poetry, based on their experiences during this globally unsettling (and still ongoing) event. This folder presents a select collection of poems submitted in response to that call, by Christopher Caruvana, Marion Cohen, Lawrence M. Lesser, Dan May, Vanessa Sun, and Michele Willman, ordered alphabetically by poet last name.
The Uncertainty Of Confidence, Michael J. Leach
The Uncertainty Of Confidence, Michael J. Leach
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
This is a free-verse poem about the estimation of population parameters in statistical models. The spacing of words is intended to reflect uncertainty.
Mathematical Rigor From Within, Lowell Abrams
Mathematical Rigor From Within, Lowell Abrams
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
There is a certain feel that is unique to the rarefied context of rigorous mathematics. These poems constitute an exploration of my experience of mathematical rigor when I am in the midst of exercising my skills as a research mathematician.
Examining The Modeling Framework Of Crime Hotspot Models In Predictive Policing, Heidi Goodson, Alanna Hoyer-Leitzel
Examining The Modeling Framework Of Crime Hotspot Models In Predictive Policing, Heidi Goodson, Alanna Hoyer-Leitzel
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
Predictive policing has its roots in crime hotspot modeling. In this paper we give an example of what goes into mathematical crime hotspot modeling and show that the modeling assumptions perpetuate systemic racism in policing. The goal of this paper is to raise objections to this field of research, not on its mathematical merit, but on the scope of the problem formation. We do not make any suggestions about how to incorporate race into predictive policing models in order to make them less biased.
Ubiratan D’Ambrosio: Celebrating His Life And Legacy, Milton Rosa, Daniel Clark Orey
Ubiratan D’Ambrosio: Celebrating His Life And Legacy, Milton Rosa, Daniel Clark Orey
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
On May 12th, Brazil and the world said goodbye to one of its biggest names in mathematics education, Ubiratan D’Ambrosio (December 8, 1932 – May 12, 2021). D’Ambrosio is recognized both throughout Brazil and internationally for having been the creator of ethnomathematics, a concept that acknowledges, values, and respects different mathematical ideas, procedures, and practices developed by the members of distinct cultural groups. D’Ambrosio analyzed the history of explanations of life and of natural evolution in different cultures. In the last years, his motivation had been the pursuit of peace, in all its four dimensions: individual, social, environmental, …
The Genius Box, James Propp
The Genius Box, James Propp
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
Who gets called a genius, and why? What effect does having a special category of people called "geniuses" have on an intellectual community and on individuals within it? Drawing on my own experience, and reflecting on writings by Moon Duchin, Elizabeth Gilbert, and others, I try to find some answers.
The Mystery Of The Dancing Men, Manmohan Kaur
The Mystery Of The Dancing Men, Manmohan Kaur
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
In this paper I describe an activity based on a 1903 Sherlock Holmes murder mystery, in which a substitution cipher is used to encrypt secret messages. The story provides a fun and interesting way to talk about frequency analysis, and can be used as a segue into mathematical constructs such as modular arithmetic and computation. The activity is accessible to ages twelve and above, and has been successfully used in mathematics outreach and popularization efforts as well as in general education and mathematics courses.
The Little Prince -- The Lost Chapter, Igor Podlubny
The Little Prince -- The Lost Chapter, Igor Podlubny
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
A "lost chapter" from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's Le Petite Prince about the Little Prince visiting a mathematician, written in French in the style of the original work, is presented along with several translations.
Teaching Mathematics: Heuristics Can And Ought To Lead The Way, Marshall Gordon
Teaching Mathematics: Heuristics Can And Ought To Lead The Way, Marshall Gordon
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
In contrast to problem-solving procedures that are the “bricks and mortar” of demonstrations in mathematics textbooks, heuristics, defined by Polya as “the study of means and methods of problem solving”, are those mental actions that enable the practitioner to make progress when it is not clear how to solve problems directly. Yet, as essential as heuristic tools are, they tend not to be included in presentations in mathematics textbooks. The overarching problem can be understood in terms of students’ not developing productive means for engaging problems. A few mathematics problems are included to argue for the validity, if not the …
Felix Hausdorff’S Poem “Den Ungeflügelten”, Benjamin Elkins
Felix Hausdorff’S Poem “Den Ungeflügelten”, Benjamin Elkins
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
In 1900, Felix Hausdorff published Ekstasen (Ecstasy) under the pseudonym Paul Mongré. The book is comprised of 157 poems (70 sonnets, 32 rondels, 25 "mixed poems", where Hausdorff effortlessly combines different types of poetic styles, and 30 more poems). Den Ungeflügelten (To The Wingless Ones) is the first poem in this book and provides an interesting self-portrait of Hausdorff as he embraces his muse with confidence. Here I present an English translation of this poem without (much) commentary.
Archimedes Of Syracuse And Sir Isaac Newton: On The Quadrature Of A Parabola, Wyatte C. Hooper
Archimedes Of Syracuse And Sir Isaac Newton: On The Quadrature Of A Parabola, Wyatte C. Hooper
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
Good mathematics stands the test of time. As culture changes, we often ask different questions, bringing new perspectives, but modern mathematics stands on ancient discoveries. Isaac Newton’s discovery of calculus (along with Leibniz) may seem old but is predated by Archimedes’ findings. Current mathematics students should be familiar with parabolas and simple curves; in our introductory calculus courses, we teach them to compute the areas under such curves. Our modern approach derives its roots from Newton’s work; however, we have filled in many of the gaps in the pursuit of mathematical rigor. What many students may not know is that …
Fantasy At The Service Of Mathematics, Clara Ziskin, Esther Williams, Alla Shmukler
Fantasy At The Service Of Mathematics, Clara Ziskin, Esther Williams, Alla Shmukler
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
This article aims to introduce the reader to a book published in 2016 under the title “Amazing Tales from the Magic Wood and Famous Problems of Mathematics” by Elli Shor and Clara Ziskin. The book offers an original method of presenting mathematical facts and history through a fantasy narrative. The book’s two authors, Clara Ziskin and Alla Shmukler (Elli Shor), together with consultant psychologist Esther Williams, share here several excerpts taken from the first part of the book as well as related illustrations and mathematical riddles, so that the reader can form an informed impression of the book, its structure, …
The List: Proverbs For Calculus, Bruce H. Pourciau
The List: Proverbs For Calculus, Bruce H. Pourciau
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
Topics chosen from first-year calculus illustrate a number of “sayings” or “proverbs,” the first three, for example, being: be awed, like a child; meaning before truth; and act with intention. Many are proverbs for life as well as mathematics.
Can We Science The Poop, Too?, Nat Banting
Can We Science The Poop, Too?, Nat Banting
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
This article describes how an innocuous question from a primary schooler taught me to pay attention to the dynamic meaning making activities of children—particularly, those of my young daughter. Through this lens, I examine how the verb-based world of children might compel us to think differently about the largely nominalized project of schooling and, more specifically, about the craft of teaching mathematics.
The Power Of A Double Take: Doubling Back To Show Growth In A Pandemic, Lawrence M. Lesser
The Power Of A Double Take: Doubling Back To Show Growth In A Pandemic, Lawrence M. Lesser
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
The COVID-19 pandemic inspired reflections on the importance and challenges of teaching exponential growth, such as doubling, to varied audiences.
Math Girl Solves The Pattern, Zoe H. Austin, Jennifer K.M. Austin
Math Girl Solves The Pattern, Zoe H. Austin, Jennifer K.M. Austin
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
During COVID-19 isolation, Dr. Jennifer Austin and her seven-year-old daughter Zoe co-authored the short story Math Girl Solves the Pattern. Here we meet the superheroine Math Girl and her nemesis Minus Girl. Math Girl is observant, curious, and creative. Houses, balls, and sailboats are disappearing! The mystery must be solved. Persevering Math Girl saves the day.
Assessment, Evaluation, And Grading: A Reflection On My Radicalization, Priscilla Bremser
Assessment, Evaluation, And Grading: A Reflection On My Radicalization, Priscilla Bremser
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
The COVID-19 pandemic forced instructors to adapt their assessment practices. For this author, that adaptation led to a reconsideration of evaluation systems, given the ways in which such systems can interfere with learning and perpetuate inequities. The author describes resulting changes in her grading of student work and evaluation of faculty colleagues.
Crocheting Mathematics Through Covid-19, Beyza C. Aslan
Crocheting Mathematics Through Covid-19, Beyza C. Aslan
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
As it is often said, something good often comes out of most bad situations. The time I spent during COVID-19, at home and isolated with my two children, brought out one secret passion in me: crocheting. Not only did it help me pass the time in a sane and productive way, but also it gave me a new goal in life. It connected my math side with my artistic side. It gave me a new perspective to look at math, and helped me help others see math in a positive way.
Work-Life Imbalance In The Time Of Covid-19, Rachel Epstein, Caroline Haddad, Emek Kose, Melissa Sutherland
Work-Life Imbalance In The Time Of Covid-19, Rachel Epstein, Caroline Haddad, Emek Kose, Melissa Sutherland
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
Four women mathematicians at various stages of their careers at public liberal arts institutions share their struggles and challenges in their professional and personal lives during the pandemic.
My Year Of Memory And Mathematics, Richard Delaware
My Year Of Memory And Mathematics, Richard Delaware
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
I relive one stream of my state of mind over the pandemic year of 2020.
Arithmetics, Interrupted, Matilde Lalín
Arithmetics, Interrupted, Matilde Lalín
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
I share some of my adventures in mathematical research and homeschooling in the time of COVID-19.
Making Art In Math Class During The Pandemic, Larson Fairbairn, Kameelah Jackson, Ksenija Simic-Muller
Making Art In Math Class During The Pandemic, Larson Fairbairn, Kameelah Jackson, Ksenija Simic-Muller
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
For many of us, the pandemic has changed how we teach and how we support students. This manuscript highlights creativity as a way to support for student mathematical and emotional well-being. It describes the positive impact that creative assignments in a mathematics content course for preservice K-8 teachers had on students during the early days of the pandemic. The story is told by the instructor and two former students in the course.
Leonardo Da Vinci In Raphael's School Of Athens, Frode Sirnes Larsen
Leonardo Da Vinci In Raphael's School Of Athens, Frode Sirnes Larsen
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
At the center of the School of Athens, Raphael painted Plato with a face similar to that of Leonardo da Vinci. In this article I argue that the likeness was intentional, and that Raphael’s fresco contains a set of references to the book De Divina Proportione, to which Leonardo contributed with drawings of polyhedrons. De Divina Proportione was written by Leonardo’s friend and teacher of mathematics, Luca Pacioli, and contains arguments for raising the status of the art of painting, similar to the arguments found in Leonardo’s Paragone. Pacioli and Leonardo thought painting should be regarded as …