MM822: History of Mathematics

Study Board of Science

Teaching language: Danish
EKA: N310003102, N310003112
Assessment: Second examiner: External, Second examiner: None
Grading: 7-point grading scale, Pass/Fail
Offered in: Odense
Offered in: Autumn
Level: Master

STADS ID (UVA): N310003101
ECTS value: 10

Date of Approval: 30-04-2018


Duration: 1 semester

Version: Archive

Comment

13013001(former UVA) is identical with this course description.

Entry requirements

The course cannot be chosen by students, who have passed MM822 (5 ECTS).

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

The aim of the course is
  • 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.
The
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 courseĀ 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

See Blackboard for syllabus lists and additional literature references.

Examination regulations

Exam element a)

Timing

January

Tests

Oral exam

EKA

N310003102

Assessment

Second examiner: External

Grading

7-point grading scale

Identification

Student Identification Card

Language

Normally, the same as teaching language

Examination aids

No aids are allowed

ECTS value

5

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

Autumn

Tests

Project

EKA

N310003112

Assessment

Second examiner: None

Grading

Pass/Fail

Identification

Full name and SDU username

Language

Normally, the same as teaching language

Examination aids

To be announced during the course

ECTS value

5

Additional information

The examination form for re-examination may be different from the exam form at the regular exam.

Indicative number of lessons

114 hours per semester

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.

Teacher responsible

Name E-mail Department
Jessica Carter jessica@imada.sdu.dk

Timetable

Administrative Unit

Institut for Matematik og Datalogi (matematik)

Offered in

Odense

Recommended course of study

Profile Education Semester Offer period