The George Washington University, Washington, DC Math 1008: The History of Mathematics (formerly Math 008) Summer 2014 Distance Learning Course (May 19- June 28, 2014) Detailed Syllabus Instructor Information Professor Murli M. Gupta (mmg@gwu.edu) Office Hours: No physical Office Hours. Virtual Office hours by prior arrangement Department of Mathematics, GWU Mathematics Department Office Location: Monroe 240, 2115 G Street, NW Course Information Course description This is a course in the history of mathematics with particular emphasis on the importance of mathematics in the evolution of human thought. We plan to consider a number of contemporary perspectives including references to current thinking on a variety of topics. The students will learn some useful mathematics from areas such as geometry, number theory and probability, as well as develop an appreciation of the mathematical endeavor. Prerequisites This course is designed for the needs of the reluctant student who might even be math-phobic. There are no prerequisites other than the ability to read, write and analyze information. This course is designed to be suitable for general education of our undergraduates, especially those in the humanities and social sciences. Working with the Online Content This course is a distance learning version of Professor Gupta's Dean's Seminar: Math 801-11: The Saga of Mathematics: How Mathematics is Intertwined with Our History and Culture. This course is somewhat different from the on-campus course. There are no "live" class meetings scheduled for the course, though there are many in-class lecture and discussion clips that were recorded in class. (Note that the Course Videos are hosted at echo360 servers. Use your Blackboard userid and password to access the videos)
This course relies heavily on multimedia presentations and lectures that you will be able to access via Blackboard. Required Text M. Lewinter / W. Widulski. The Saga of Mathematics, A Brief History, Prentice-Hall (2002). Additional course readings are available online as downloadable PDF files. Grading Information Weekly Weekly problem sets (Weeks 1-5). Due 11:00pm, s 55% Final Assignment on Public Key Cryptography (Week 6). Due 11:00pm, Friday June 27 10% Extra Credit Class Participation Points: Weekly Postings: One good, thoughtful question or response to a previously posted question on the chapters of that week (Weeks 1-6). Due 11:00pm, Fridays 6% Major Paper o Paper Topic (Week 1). Due 11:00pm, May 23 Topic Confirmed: May 27 o Paper (Week 4). Due 11:00pm, June 13 30% o Critical evaluation of someone else s paper (Week 5). Due 11:00pm, June 21 5% Major Paper You will be asked to choose a mathematician (living or otherwise), or a mathematical topic. I have posted a list of possible topics from which you may choose your topic. Or you may propose another topic, not on the list, with appropriate justification. Put your choice in the discussion board during the first week, by May 23. I will post your approved topic by May 27. In case of multiple requests for the same topic, I will award the topic to the earliest requests (as determined by the time stamp on the discussion board). You would do research on your person/topic and submit a paper (Microsoft Word document, single-spaced, Times New Roman 12 point font, four (4) or more pages) by 11:00pm, EDT, June 13. NOTE: You need to understand your material as you may be asked to further explain your work, and also may be called upon to answer related questions. Please follow the proper rules of citation of your sources, to guard against the possibility of plagiarism. Critical Evaluation of a Major Paper You will be asked to choose one of the major papers uploaded by someone other that you, and write a onepage critical evaluation of that paper. Upload by 11:00pm EDT, June 21. Policies Examination and Assignments It is your responsibility to keep track of all the required work products that need to be uploaded to the Blackboard discussion board by the designated time. It is your responsibility to ensure that all problem sets, papers, postings, and other assignments are properly completed and submitted by the posted deadlines.
Your grade on a late assignment will be reduced by 5% for each 24 hours (or fraction thereof), and late assignments will not be accepted beyond five (5) days. Check with your instructor if it is not clear how to submit coursework. Incompletes Incompletes will not normally be given for this course. In order to obtain an incomplete grade, the student s course work must have been satisfactory before a serious intervening event (illness, accident, etc.) caused the student to be unable to complete the coursework. A student will not be eligible for an incomplete simply because s/he might otherwise fail the course because of poor performance or does not complete the coursework. Academic Integrity You are responsible for ensuring that your work in this course is completed in a manner consistent with the University s standards of academic honesty. Academic dishonesty in any aspect of your coursework (such as plagiarism, failing to cite sources in a paper, or cheating on an examination) could result in significant penalties, including, but not limited to, failure for the assignment, failure for the course, or other academic penalties as allowed under University regulations. Group work is not allowed for assignments. In all cases, papers and assignments must represent original work that you have done for this class. Carefully review the George Washington University Code of Academic Integrity and strictly comply with all aspects of it. For additional information, refer to: http://www.gwu.edu/~ntegrity/index.html. Disability Support Services Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor of the course privately to discuss specific needs. Please contact the Office of Disability Support Services at 202-994-8250 or dss@gwu.edu in Rome Hall, Suite 102, to establish eligibility and to coordinate reasonable accommodations. For additional information, please refer to http://gwired.gwu.edu/dss. Course Calendar overview (Assignment details and links are on Blackboard) Week 1 Monday Chapter 1: Egyptian Mathematics Review: Course overview, syllabus, due dates, technology requirements Watch: Lectures 1 7 on itunes U Tuesday Chapter 1: Egyptian Mathematics Post: Introduce Yourself Wednesday- Chapter 2: Babylonian Mathematics Watch: Lectures 8 11 on itunes U Thursday Chapter 2: Babylonian Mathematics Friday Chapter 2: Babylonian Mathematics Post: One good question or a response to questions about Chapters 1 & 2
Post: Choose Major Paper topic Submit: Chapters 1 & 2 exercises Week 2 Monday Chapter 3: Those incredible Greeks! Watch: Lectures 12 17 on itunes U Tuesday Chapter 3: Those incredible Greeks! Read Posting: Confirmation of paper topics by Professor Reminder: Begin working on the major paper Wednesday Chapter 4: Greeks bearing gifts Watch: Lectures 18 26 on itunes U Thursday Chapter 4: Greeks bearing gifts Friday Chapter 4: Greeks bearing gifts Post: One good question or a response to questions about Chapters 3 & 4 Submit: Chapters 3 & 4 exercises Week 3 Monday Chapter 5: Must all good things come to an end? Watch: Lectures 27 & 28 on itunes U Tuesday Chapter 5: Must all good things come to an end? Wednesday Chapter 6: Europe smells the coffee Watch: Lectures 29 31 on itunes U Thursday Chapter 6: Europe smells the coffee Friday Chapter 6: Europe smells the coffee Post: One good question or a response to questions about Chapters 5 & 6
Submit: Chapters 5 & 6 exercises Week 4 Monday Chapter 7: Mathematics marches on Read: Chapter 7 of textbook Tuesday Chapter 8: A few good men Watch: Lectures 32 34 on itunes U Wednesday Chapter 8: A few good men Thursday Chapter 8: A few good men Friday- Chapter 8: A few good men Submit: Major paper Post: One good question or a response to questions about Chapters 7 & 8 Submit: Chapters 7 & 8 exercises Week 5 Monday Chapter 9: Amazing century Watch: Lectures 35-47 on itunes U Tuesday Chapter 9: Amazing century Wednesday Chapter 9: Amazing century Thursday Chapter 12: Ones and zeroes Watch: Lectures 48 & 49 on itunes U Friday Chapter 12: Ones and zeroes Post: One good question or a response to questions about Chapters 9 & 12 Submit: Critical evaluation of a major paper Note: Final assignment available on Blackboard Submit: Chapters 9 & 12 exercises Week 6
Monday Chapter 10: The age of Euler / Chapter 11: Century of surprise Read: Chapters 10 & 11 of textbook Begin working on final assignment Tuesday Chapter 10: The age of Euler / Chapter 11: Century of surprise Wednesday Chapter 10: The age of Euler / Chapter 11: Century of surprise Thursday Chapter 10: The age of Euler / Chapter 11: Century of surprise Friday Chapter 10: The age of Euler / Chapter 11: Century of surprise Submit: Final assignment Post: One good question or a response to questions about Chapters 10 & 11 ************ End of Course **********