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Liberal Arts Math -MAT 140
Beth Lucas
Spring 2008
Chapter 4 deals with Numeration systems and discusses several cultures in brief. I would like to use this
opportunity to explore a bit about the people who made math what it is today. Although we weren’t quite as
blunt as the jr. high kids who drew the pictures below, nor did anyone actually say “nerdy ,middle aged, white,
European, MAN from the 16th or 17th century”, (both nerdy and man were mentioned) these stereotypes are
often held. I am handing you a packet of biographies, and there are mentions and sidebars in the chapters
we are studying. Still, this hardly scratches the surface.
Therefore, as part of your chapter 4 test (25%), you will type a single page of five (5) biographies,
including Name. Dates, Country or culture of origin, and Important contribution to mathematics.
(An example of the preferred form of this is on the reverse).
Each person must choose one mathematician from EACH of the following categories:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Flourished before 500 CE (also known as AD)
From Asia, Africa (other than Egypt), Australia or the Americas
Woman
Born or died on your Birthday
Your choice (to break the stereotype)
You may not do anyone in the packet, on the reverse, or discussed in the chapters 1-4, 11 of our book.
(You will be responsible for knowing the origin and dates, and contributions of these, also.)
You may use any source of information but you might find it convenient to use the following web site:
http://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/history/BiogIndex.html which has indices set up in these categories.
Due: Monday April 14, 2008 (or sooner)
I will then copy these sheets for your classmates so we each have a copy. On the final exam (take homeopen book part) you will be asked questions based on these sheets, the packet and the text.
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Liberal Arts Math -MAT 140
Beth Lucas
Spring 2008
Professor Lucas’ Choices
Flourished before 500 CE
Bryson of Heraclea
c. 450 BCE – c. 390 BCE
Heraclea – Now Italy
Invented a method of Squaring the Circle. Stated the circle is greater than all inscribed and less than
all circumscribed polygons. He is mentioned by Plato and Aristotle. Wrote Diatribes
From Asia, Africa (other than Egypt), Australia or the Americas
Takakuza Seki – “The Arithmetic Sage”
March 1642 – Oct. 24, 1708
Japan
He was an infant prodigy in Math. Published paper answering 15 problems posed years before. He
discovered first many mathematical ideas bearing the names of western mathematicians. He was first
to study determinants. Used “Newton” method to solve equations, solved cubics as Horner did.
Discovered “Bernouli numbers” Wrote on magic squares. Great teacher.
Woman
Florence Nightingale
May 12, 1820 – August 13, 1910
English , although born in Italy.
Best known as a nurse in the Crimean war she made a number of contributions to mathematics
especially in statistics. She used her statistical studies to influence reform in sanitary conditions and
other health and public welfare area. Was a student of Sylvester (himself a student of DeMorgan)
Born or died on my Birthday
Sylvestre Francois Lacroix
Paris,France
April 28, 1765 – May 24, 1843
He was a teacher and writer of influential text books. Those translated to English brought “New
Continental Mathematics” to England. He felt Algebra and geometry should be taught separately as
much as possible.
My choice
Benjamin Banneker
Oct. 9 1731- Oct. 9, 1806
Maryland, USA
Son of a freed slave, he corresponded with Thomas Jefferson. He built the first wooden striking clock
in America. He helped develop plans for the layout of Washington, DC. He also performed a number
of scientific experiments and wrote a journal with a number of mathematical puzzles. In an age when
people of African descent were thought to be intellectually inferior to those of European descent,
Banneker was often mentioned as the proof that this was wrong.
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