WHY INCORPORATE THE HISTORY OF MATHEMATICS INTO THE CLASSROOM?
YOUR STUDENTS WILL:
- see and appreciate the nature and the role of math in the development of society;
- be stimulated in their interest in math not only as a science but as the achievement of many great minds throughout the generations;
- know that people are still creating math;
- model discovery and invention;
- understand the sources of mathematical concepts eg. why do we have zero? sine?;
- develop logical insights and understand how mathematical ideas were developed historically (eg. reasoning and proof).
- perceive relationships and structures that exist
USES OF MATH HISTORY:
- outside reports
- independent studies
- club programs
- brief historical talks/anecdotes in class
- famous problems given out to class (with some discussion and buildup)
Back
Last updated January 31, 2000 by Annamae Lang and Nancy Yan