Math 160: History of Mathematics
Spring 2005
Instructor: Ben Davis
Email: bdavis@stmarys-ca.edu
Web: http://galileo.stmarys-ca.edu/bdavis/
Office: Galileo 103 D
Office Phone: 631-8048
Office Hours: Tuesday 9-11 am, Wednesday 3-4 pm, or by appointment.
Primary Texts:
Coursework:
- Problem Sets: There will be a weekly problem set due at the beginning of class on Fridays. I expect you to write a complete solution to every assigned problem. If you get stuck on a problem, or if you are not confident in your solution, please confer with fellow students, a tutor, or come ask me in office hours. Late homework may be accepted due to unavoidable circumstances, and only at my discretion. Missing homework will receive a score of zero.
- Student Commentaries: Students will submit a one-half page minimum commentary on each week's reading. Commentaries may be informal and can include questions, critiques, clarifications, and other insights pertaining to the readings. Summaries and recapitualtions of the readings are only acceptable in the service of a related original remark. Commentaries must be submitted to Blackboard by noon on Thursdays. A sample instructor commentary is currently posted on Blackboard.
- Term Paper: There will be one 8-10 page researched term paper required for this course. The topic may be drawn from the primary texts or the student commentaries. The rough draft is due at the start of class on Monday, April 4. The final draft is due at the start of class on Monday, May 2.
- Presentation: Each student will give a 10-20 minute presentation in-class based on the term paper. Presentations will be made on the Wednesdays of April 27, May 4, and May 11.
Exams: There will be two midterms and a final. Each exam will cover the material since the previous exam. Missing an exam will result in an exam score of zero being assigned.
Grades: Your grade is based on coursework and exams. The weight each component shall receive is as follows: 15% problem set average, 15% commentary average, 15% term paper grade, 15% presentation grade, 13.33% Midterm 1, 13.33% Midterm 2, 13.33% Final Exam. The following distribution will be used to assign course grades: 100-93% = A, 92-90% = A-, 89-86% = B+, 85-83% = B, 82-80% = B-, 79-76% = C+, 75-73% = C, 72-70% = C-, 69-66% = D+, 65-63% = D, 62-60% = D-, Below 60 % = F.
Calculators: Calculators are always permitted.
Tutoring: The Student Math Center is open every Sunday and Monday from 7-9pm in Galileo 201. Additional tutoring may be requested from the Academic Support Center in Sichel 105.
Academic Honesty: The Saint Mary's policies regarding academic honesty detailed in the student handbook apply to this course. I encourage you to work with other students on coursework, but your write-ups should be in your own voice, and consist largely of your own work. Where your argument depends heavily on another's work, say so.
Course Calendar: The course calendar details the schedule of coursework, exams and breaks.
Homework and Announcements
Assignment 8 due Fri May 13
Assignment 7 due Wed Apr 20
Assignment 6 due Wed Apr 13
Assignment 5 due Mon Apr 4
Assignment 4 due Fri Mar 18
The deadline for the math 160 term paper rough draft is extended to Friday April 8.
The paper topic is to be drawn from the primary texts or the student commentaries. Possible approaches to the paper might be:
1. A biographical approach focusing on the life and work of a specific mathematician or school.
2. A study of a specific problem; i.e. a detailed exposition of a specific technique or a study on
the evolution of techniques.
3. A study of the influence of culture on mathematics; i.e. what aspect of some culture influenced the development of the mathematics.
4. An exposition of the historical role of mathematics in some other domain: finance, engineering and architecture, art, science, etc.
Assignment 4 due Fri Mar 18
It turns out that Pi is irrational.
Assignment 3 due Fri Mar 4
There are many proofs that the square root of 2 is irrational.
There are a multitude of proofs of the Pythagorean Theorem. Some of them are even animated.
Assignment 2 due Fri Feb 25
Prof. David Joyce has placed Euclid's Elements online. Check it out.
Euclid's work will live long after all the text-books of the present day are superseded and forgotten. It is one of the noblest monuments of antiquity. -- Sir Thomas L. Heath (1861-1940)
Assignment 1 due Fri Feb 18