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Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons™
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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
The Discipline Of History And The “Modern Consensus In The Historiography Of Mathematics”, Michael N. Fried
The Discipline Of History And The “Modern Consensus In The Historiography Of Mathematics”, Michael N. Fried
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
Teachers and students of mathematics often view history of mathematics as just mathematics as they know it, but in another form. This view is based on a misunderstanding of the nature of history of mathematics and the kind of knowledge it attempts to acquire. Unfortunately, it can also lead to a deep sense of disappointment with the history of mathematics itself, and, ultimately, a misunderstanding of the historical nature of mathematics. This kind of misunderstanding and the disappointment following from it--both raised to the level of resentment--run through the paper "A Critique of the Modern Consensus in the Historiography of …
What Is So Negative About Negative Exponents?, Geoffrey D. Dietz
What Is So Negative About Negative Exponents?, Geoffrey D. Dietz
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
While teaching college-level mathematics (from College Algebra to Calculus to Abstract Algebra), I have observed that students are often uncomfortable using negative exponents in calculations. I believe the fault partially lies in the manner in which negative exponents are taught in Algebra 1 or Algebra 2 courses, especially in rigid instructions always to write answers using only positive exponents. After reviewing a sample of algebra texts used in the United States over the last two centuries, it appears that while attitudes toward negative exponents have varied from author to author over time, the current trend is to declare explicitly that …
Benjamin Banneker's Original Handwritten Document: Observations And Study Of The Cicada, Janet E. Barber, Asamoah Nkwanta
Benjamin Banneker's Original Handwritten Document: Observations And Study Of The Cicada, Janet E. Barber, Asamoah Nkwanta
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
Benjamin Banneker, farmer, mathematician, astronomer, and scientist, is known for his mathematical puzzles, ephemeris calculations, almanacs, his wooden clock, land surveying work, and famous letter on human rights. However, as a naturalist, his scientific and systematic observations of the cicadas are less known. In this paper we publicize Banneker’s naturalistic study of the seventeen-year periodic cycle of the cicada and make available the original handwritten document of his observations. We also introduce the audience of this journal to an intriguing natural problem involving prime numbers.
Liberal Arts Inspired Mathematics: A Report Or How To Bring Cultural And Humanistic Aspects Of Mathematics To The Classroom As Effective Teaching And Learning Tools, Anders K H Bengtsson
Liberal Arts Inspired Mathematics: A Report Or How To Bring Cultural And Humanistic Aspects Of Mathematics To The Classroom As Effective Teaching And Learning Tools, Anders K H Bengtsson
Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
This is the report of a project on ways of teaching university-level mathematics in a humanistic way. The main part of the project recounted here involved a journey to the United States during the fall term of 2012 to visit several liberal arts colleges in order to study and discuss mathematics teaching. Several themes that came up during my conversations at these colleges are discussed in the text: the invisibility of mathematics in everyday life, the role of calculus in American mathematics curricula, the "is algebra necessary?'' discussion, teaching mathematics as a language, the transfer problem in learning, and the …