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

2. 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

3. 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

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

5. 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

6. 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

9. 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

14. 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.

15. Thank you, math peeps!