Detailed Schedule -- Mathematics Through Time

MONT 108N -- Fall 2010, Prof. Little

This is a tentative, evolving schedule. Topics may be added, deleted, or rearranged during the course of the semester. Any changes will be announced in class and here. Note: In the readings below, K = Kline, Mathematics for the Nonmathematician, R = Rudman, The Babylonian Theorem, S = Skloot, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and E = Euclid, The Elements.

Date Class Topic Readings
9/1 Course Introduction
9/3 The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks S, Part One, pages 1 - 83
9/6 The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks S, Part Two, pages 89 - 170
9/8 The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks S, Part Three, pages 179 - 328
9/10 Why do we study mathematics? -- Paper 1 Due K, Chapter 1, pages 1 - 10
9/13 The ``finished product'' -- the number concept K, Chapter 4, pages 58 - 94
9/15 The ``finished product'' -- algebra K, Chapter 5, pages 94 - 122
9/17 Logic or discovery? K, Chapter 3, pages 30 - 57
9/20 Historical Orientation-- Problem Set 1 due K, Chapter 2, pages 11 - 29
9/22 Number system basics R, Chapter 1, pages 25 - 37
9/24 Egyptian numbers and arithmetic R, Chapter 2, pages 39 - 46
9/27 Babylonian numbers and arithmetic -- Problem Set 2 due R, Chapter 3, pages 47 - 60
9/29 Babylonian ``geometric algebra'' and Neugebauer's interpretation R, Chapter 4, pages 61 - 84
10/1 More on Babylonian mathematics R, Chapter 4
10/4 ``Plimpton 322'' and Pythagorean triples R, Chapter 5, pages 85 - 98
10/6 More on the Babylonian understanding of Pythagorean triples R, Chapter 5
10/8 Square Roots -- Problem Set 3 due R, Chapter 6, pages 99 - 118
10/11,13,15 Fall Break -- no class dWPP
10/18 Enter the Greeks K, Chapter 6, pages 123 - 152
10/20 Spare Day K, Chapter 6; R, Chapter 12, pages 179 - 193
10/22 Midterm Exam
10/25 Euclid -- Elements, Book I E, Axioms, Postulates, Propositions 1 - 4
10/27 Euclid -- Elements, Book I E, Propositions 5 - 8
10/29 Euclid -- Elements, Book I -- Problem Set 4 due E, Propositions 9 - 15
11/1 Euclid -- Elements, Book I E, Propositions 16 - 20, 22
11/3 Euclid -- Elements, Book I E, Propositions 23, 26 - 31
11/5 Euclid -- Elements, Book I -- Paper 2 due E, Propositions 32 - 37
11/8 Euclid -- Elements, Book I E, Propositions 38 - 41
11/10 Euclid -- Elements, Book I E, Propositions 46 - 48
11/12 Spare Day
11/15 Concluding discussion on Euclid K, Chapter 6, pages 123 - 152
11/17 Greek Mathematics and the Natural World K, Chapters 7 and 8, pages 153 - 196
11/19 Mathematics and Perspective in Renaissance Art -- Problem Set 5 due K, Chapters 9 and 10, pages 197 - 231
11/22 Coordinate Geometry K, Chapter 12, pages 250 - 279
11/24,26 Thanksgiving Break -- no class
11/29 Non-Euclidean Geometries -- the history K, Chapter 20, pages 452 - 471
12/1 What does non-Euclidean geometry look like? K, Chapter 20
12/3 Was non-Euclidean geometry anticipated by Euclid? -- Problem Set 6 due K, Chapter 20
12/6 Implications of non-Euclidean geometry K, Chapter 20
12/8 More on implications of non-Euclidean geometry (readings to be distributed)
12/10 Course wrap-up -- Paper 3 due
The Final Exam for this course will given 8:00am - 10:30am on December 18, 2010.

Last modified: September 19, 2010