MM822: History of Mathematics
Comment
Entry requirements
The course cannot be chosen by students, who have passed the 5 ECTS version of MM822 (UVA 15008901).
Academic preconditions
Students taking the course are expected to have knowledge of basic concepts within core areas of mathematics such as elementary geometry and concepts such as continuity, limit, differentiability, infinite series from mathematical analysis.
Furthermore it presupposes that the student is able to by him/herself read mathematical texts at BA-level.
Course introduction
- To give the student an overview of the
history of mathematics from ancient Civilizations to the 20th century.
The course gives a more detailed insight to the following subjects:
history of equations; the development of calculus; Euclidean and
non-Euclidean geometry. - To allow the students to concentrate on a chosen subject with the history of mathematics.
course builds on the knowledge acquired in the Bachelor in mathematics,
in particular the basic courses (calculus, algebra, mathematical
analysis and mathematical methods) placed in the first year, that are
also part of the minor in mathematics. The course gives the
prerequisites to write a master thesis in the history of mathematics.
Together with e.g. NAT805 it provides the student with the skills to
prepare material for teaching the history of mathematics in high school.
In relation to the competence profile of the degree it is the explicit focus of the course to:
- Give the competence to produce material for teaching history of mathematics in the Danish high school.
- Provide knowledge of the development of mathematics through times.
Expected learning outcome
The learning objectives of the course are that the student demonstrates the ability to:
- select and present relevant parts of the syllabus
- place a piece of mathematics in an internal and external historical context
- present certain methods that were used by previous mathematicians
- analyse and present historical source material
Content
The following main topics are contained in the course: Numbers, magnitudes and real numbers. Greek geometry. History of equations. Pre -history of Calculus. The invention of Calculus: Newton and Leibniz. 18th- and 19th- Century Analysis. Non-Euclidean geometry. Aspects of Ninetieth and Twentieth Century mathematics.
Literature
Examination regulations
Exam element a)
Timing
January
Tests
Oral exam
EKA
Assessment
Grading
Identification
Language
Examination aids
ECTS value
Additional information
Reexamination in the same exam period or immediately thereafter.
The examination form for re-examination may be different from the exam form at the regular exam.
Exam element b)
Timing
Tests
Project
EKA
Assessment
Grading
Identification
Language
Examination aids
To be announced during the course
ECTS value
Additional information
Indicative number of lessons
Teaching Method
Activities during the study phase:
- Preparing a presentation of one of the assignments in the tutorials.
- Work in groups on a chosen historical text, preparation of presentation and writing report.