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Mathematical Theories and Concepts Handout

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104 views4 pages

Mathematical Theories and Concepts Handout

Uploaded by

Peter John Teves
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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MAJORSHIP MENTORSHIP

- MATHEMATICS -

MATHEMATICAL THEORIES AND CONCEPTS

Topics:

A. History of Mathematics
B. Mathematics Investigations and Modeling

A. HISTORY OF MATHEMATICS

History of mathematics is an investigation into the origin of discoveries in mathematics,


mathematical methods and notation of the past.

The root of the term mathematics comes from the Greek word “mathemata”, which means
“subject of instruction”.

The most ancient mathematical texts available are:


• Plimpton 322 (Babylonian c. 1900 BC)
• Rhind Mathematical Papyrus (Egyptian c. 2000–1800 BC)
• Moscow Mathematical Papyrus (Egyptian c. 1890 BC)

Pythagorean theorem is the concern of all these texts. It seems to be the most ancient
and widespread mathematical development after basic arithmetic and geometry.

 Prehistoric mathematics

Prehistoric artifacts discovered in Africa, dated 20,000 years old or more suggest early
attempts to quantify time.

Ishango bone

- found near the head waters of the Nile river


- may be more than 20,000 years old
- consists of a series of tally marks carved in three columns running the length of the
bone.

- Common interpretations: Ishango bone shows either the earliest known demonstration
of sequences of prime numbers or a six-month lunar calendar.
 Babylonian mathematics

Babylonian mathematics

- refers to any mathematics of the peoples of Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) from the
days of the early Sumerians through the Hellenistic period almost to the dawn
of Christianity.

- written using a sexagesimal (base-60) numeral system. From this derives the
modern day usage of 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour, and 360 (60
x 6)degrees in a circle, as well as the use of seconds and minutes of arc to denote
fractions of a degree.

 Greek mathematics

Greek mathematics

- refers to the mathematics written in the Greek language from the time of Thales of
Miletus(~600 BC) to the closure of the Academy of Athens in 529 AD.
- is thought to have begun with Thales of Miletus (c. 624–c.546 BC) and Pythagoras
of Samos(c. 582–c. 507 BC).

Thales
- used geometry to solve problems such as calculating the height of pyramids and
the distance of ships from the shore.
- credited with the first use of deductive reasoning applied to geometry, by deriving
four corollaries to Thales’ Theorem.
- hailed as the first true mathematician and the first known individual to whom a
mathematical discovery has been attributed.

Pythagoras
- established the Pythagorean School, whose doctrine it was that mathematics ruled
the universe and whose motto was “All is number”.

Euclid (c. 300 BC)


- wrote the Elements, which widely considered the most successful and influential
textbook of all time.

Apollonius of Perga (c. 262–190 BC)


- made significant advances to the study of conic sections, showing that one can
obtain all three varieties of conic section by varying the angle of the plane that cuts
a double-napped cone.

Hypatia of Alexandria (AD 350–415)


- is the first woman mathematician recorded by history.
 Chinese mathematics

Chinese mathematics

- place value system is one of the early contributions

- Chinese mathematics of a decimal positional notation system, the so called “rod


numerals” in which distinct ciphers were used for numbers between 1 and 10, and
additional ciphers for powers often.

- the number 123 would be written using the symbol for “1”, followed by the symbol
for “100”, then the symbol for “2” followed by the symbol for “10”, followed by the
symbol for “3”. This was the most advanced number system in the world at the
time, apparently in use several centuries before the common era and well before
the development of the Indian numeral system.

- Rod numerals allowed the representation of numbers as large as desired and


allowed calculations to be carried out on the suan pan, or Chinese abacus.

MATHEMATICIANS

Mathematician Father of Description


Euclid Geometry wrote the most important mathematical
textbook of all time, “The Elements
Rene Descartes Analytic Geometry developed Cartesian coordinates and was
credited with the first use of superscripts for
powers and exponents.
Hipparchus of Nicaea Trigonometry developed the first detailed table of
trigonometry ratios which
shows the lengths of chords corresponding to
various arcs of circles known as the table of
chords.

Isaac Newton Calculus developed the foundations of differential and


integral calculus. He also generalized binomial
theorem (in 1665)
B. Mathematics Investigations and Modeling

George Polya’s Problem Solving

1. Understand the problem


2. Devise a plan
3. Carry out the plan
4. Look back

PROBLEM SOLVING MATHEMATICAL INVESTIGATION


Convergent activity Divergent activity
It has definite goal – the solution of the refers to the sustained exploration of a
problem mathematical situation
fixed open-ended

“Mathematics is a vast adventure: its history reflects some of the


noblest thoughts of countless generations”

– Dirk Jan Struik

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