Mathematics Pre-May Seminar

Office Hours: Tuesday/Thursday 11-4; other times by discovery.

Course Objectives: Mathematics 250 is required for students going on the 2015 Math May Seminar, Math 300G. The primary aim of this course is to prepare ourselves as carefully and completely as possible to see and understand the relevance of mathematics and its role in Western society when we travel abroad. This will include examining the historical and cultural background of the sites we visit, exploring the scientific and religious worldview of the cultures that produced the sites, and the ways in which they influence us today. We will answer the question, "Where is the mathematics?" from simple currency and modular clock arithmetic to the use of geometry in art, group theory in design, and statistics in government. We all must feel obligated to contribute to the discussion of issues; open disagreement is welcome. Each student researches two mathematics topics from the history of mathematics and presents a 15-20 minute oral presentation on each. Additionally, students will form research groups by country to serve as itinerary elaborators and guides. A class travel book will be printed for everyone, consisting of papers, maps, diagrams, and outlines explaining the history, architecture, layout, and so on of the sites we will visit in May.

Student Learner Outcomes:
1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the historical significance of the sites on the seminar through delivery and evaluation of country presentations.
2. Students will demonstrate an understanding of mathematics history related to our trip through problem solving and mathematical exercises.
3. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the role of mathematics in western culture through written responses to the readings, via class discussion, and through the keeping of a mathematics journal.

Texts:
	Mathematics In Western Culture by Morris Kline

References:
	Elementary Number Theory by Underwood Dudley
	Number Theory: A Historical Approach by John J. Watkins
	Math Through The Ages by William P. Berlinghoff and Fernando Q. Gouvea
	Mathematical Excursions To The World's Greatest Buildings by Alexander J. Hahn

Grading:
	3 Presentations: 2 on Math History, 1 Country Report	20%
	Math-related Problems & Exercises	60%
	Written Assignments, Evaluations	10%
	Math Journal	5%
	Participation in Class Discussions, Attendance	5%

Note for 2-credit students: Students taking Math 250 Pre-May Seminar for 2 credits will do 2 presentations instead of 3 (1 Math History, 1 Country), all presentation evaluations, half of the mathematics problems and exercises, and half of the written assignments related to Kline and other readings. You are expected to attend 2 hours of class time.

Related Sites:
	Concordia Math's Trip Itinerary: Daily (tentative) schedule for May 2015
	Concordia Math May Seminar Links: Sites ranging from readings to weather
	Concordia Math May Sem Homepage: Full menu of links
	Earliest Uses of Various Mathematical Symbols, maintained by Jeff Miller, based on A History of Mathematical Notations by Florian Cajori.
	Earliest Known Uses of some of the Words of Mathematics, also maintained by Jeff Miller.
	The MacTutor History of Mathematics, Archive.
	The History of Mathematics maintained by David R. Wilkins.
	The Math Forum @ Drexel.
	The Cayley Quilt Maker: Math Art Posters.
	Listen to Fourier Series.
	Dauben's The Art of Renaissance Science.

Written Assignments will include answering in writing 4 questions related to the Kline readings and handouts each week, and a written site/country report for our seminar travel book. This should be formatted as a two-column landscape Word document.

In the following weekly schedule, the Sketches of mathematical discovery are from Math Through the Ages.