[HM] A threaded history of mathematics
David Pengelley (davidp@nmsu.edu)
Fri, 28 May 1999 10:12:33 -0600 (MDT)
Our recent book, Mathematical Expeditions: Chronicles by the Explorers,
takes a threaded approach, with annotated original sources as the core
pieces around which the stories of five threads are told and explored.
While it does not claim to be a history of mathematics per se, nor
comprehensive, the stories of five great problems that each drove the
development of a major branch of mathematics are followed from antiquity
to the present via annotated original sources. The five chapters can be
read independently. One of our five great problems is the one originally
mentioned, beginning with Pythagorean triples and ending with Fermat's
Last Theorem, set around original writings from Euclid, Euler, Germain,
and Kummer. The other chapters follow motivating problems in geometry,
set theory, analysis, and algebra. The book is suitable for both lower
and higher college levels, for courses in history of mathematics,
mathematics appreciation, and to attract and retain mathematics majors. We
are now writing a similar second book, on topics at a more advanced level.
Much information about both books, including major excerpts from
Mathematical Expeditions: Chronicles by the Explorers, is contained on our
comprehensive web pages on our teaching of mathematics with original
historical sources:
http://www.math.nmsu.edu/~history
These pages include extensive information on our courses, our recently
published book, a recent MAA minicourse based on a second book in
progress, our work with school teachers and graduate students, articles we
have written, a bibliography of resources, and links to other sites. We
heartily invite you to visit, to give us your suggestions, to create links
to these pages, and to pass this on to others.
David Pengelley (davidp@nmsu.edu) and Reinhard Laubenbacher
(reinhard@nmsu.edu)
Mathematics, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003 USA
Tel: 505-646-3901=dept., 505-646-2723=my office; Fax: 505-646-1064
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