MATH 390 History of
Mathematics
MATH 390-01 (50640)
INSTRUCTOR: Gary W. Towsley, 324C South Hall, x5388, towsleyg@geneseo.edu
TIME and PLACE:
TEXTS:
1. Classics of Mathematics ed. by Ronald Calinger
Prentice Hall,
2. The Thirteen Books of Euclids Elements Vol. 1,trans. by T. Heath
3. An Exercise Supplement is available from my outbox. I will have available at nominal cost paper copies of the exercise supplement.
EVALUATION: The final grade for this course will be based upon a mid-term, a final exam, and homework. The portions of the evaluation will be weighted as follows:
Mid-term exam .30%
Final exam 35%
Homework... .35%
The final grade for the course will be assigned by the following schedule:
A 93-100% A-- 90-92% B+ 87-89% B 83-86% B-- 80-82%
C+ 77-79% C 73-76% C-- 70-72% D 60-69% E 0-59%
Homework is due during the day, not necessarily at the class of the day due. Significant reductions in points will be applied to late homework. No homework assignment will be accepted after that assignment has been returned in class.
The final exam will be given at
The mid-term exam will be given on (or near) Friday, February 27.
CONTENT OUTLINE:
One semester is not long enough to give an adequate coverage of the whole history of mathematics. We will cover a selection of major topics, mostly concerned with the development of mathematics in the West. The topics to be covered are:
1. Ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian Mathematics
2. Ancient Greek Mathematics Geometry and Number Theory
3. The Transition to
4. The Mathematics of Medieval
5. The Renaissance The Cubic Equation and the development of Algebra
6. Fermat and Descartes and Coordinate Geometry
7. The development of Calculus
8. A strand of Number Theory to the Present
9. The Foundations of the Calculus Euler, Cauchy, Weierstrass, etc.
10. Problems in the Foundations in the 20th Century
MAKEUP POLICY: I will provide the opportunity for a makeup exam if I am provided with a verifiable and significant excuse.