History of math via London/paris/cern Meri Hughes University of Mary-Hardin Baylor Mathfest 2017

Motivation behind the course 10 courses per year awarded trips university-wide, with $1800 “scholarship” per participant History of Mathematics course open to Math, Math Ed, Computer Science, Engineering, even Chemistry majors (arguably History/Culture of STEM) 2 day a week course, primarily “guided inquiry” learning packets 9 day spring break trip to London and Paris, with a day trip to CERN

Why discovery approach? Alternating year course cycle along with variety of majors ensures varying math ability levels Class may work as a whole, in groups, or individually. (Pro- active regarding seating of stronger math students.) Format of course provides that it’s not super rigorous for math majors, however, it’s extremely informative, solidifies concepts, and improves pedagogical skills. Feels like math club

Course format Daily lecture packets – 50% Final/Midterm – 30% Mathematician Presentation (Must teach us some math) – 20%

inquiry topic examples Favorite Pythagorean Theorem Proofs Math in the Renaissance (Art, Divine Proportion, magic squares, etc.) The Quadratic, Cubic, Quartic, and the Complex Algebra and Geometry with Descartes Discovering the Binomial Theorem Beginnings of Topology Ancient Number Systems Early Computations: Rhind Papyrus, YBC 7289 Thales, Hippocrates, and Archimedes Perfecting Pi Hippasus and Proof by Contradiction Euclid’s Constructions Euclid’s Algebraic Identities Pythagoreans and Platonic Solids

London/paris daily topics Day 1 – Mathematical Scavenger Hunt Day 2 – Bletchley Park Day 3 – Innovative Calculation with the Brits Day 4 – Origins of Calculus Day 5 – Origins of Probability Day 6 – All About Euler Day 7 – Primes in Paris Day 8 – An Homage to Science Day 9 – The Sarbonne

Mathematical Scavenger hunt Prime Meridian The Rose Line Poincare at Montnasse Mona Lisa Lavoisier’s Laboratory L’ecole Polytechnique Sarbonne Mathematician Street names Standard meter Rhind Papyrus Newton’s Tomb Turing’s Bombe Napier’s Bones Thornton Slide Rule G.H. Hardy Posters Pemrose Paving Royal Academy The Gherkin Paris Observatory Foucault Pendulum Pascaline machine Last Original Standard Meter Saint-Jacques Tower Pantheon (Lagrange) Sophie Germain’s tomb Kilometer Zero Pi Room Mathematicians on Eiffel

Supplementary texts Math Through the Ages: a Gentle History for Teachers and Others, 2nd ed, William P. Berlinghoff, MAA/ Oxton House Publishing, 2005. Great Moments in Mathematics Before 1650, Howard Eves, MAA, 1983. Great Moments in Mathematics After 1650, Howard Eves, MAA, 1983.

Thank you, math peeps! mhughes@umhb.edu