— Mathematics of the Ancient World in Its Cultural and Historic Context

Catalog description

This interdisciplinary survey of mathematics from prehistory to Archimedes covers topics from the basic (different ways of conceiving numbers) to the complex (a proof of the Pythagorean theorem). The cultural and historical context of the mathematical achievements of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Greece are emphasized in a way that shows these achievements as a natural and integral part of the civilizations that created them. Comparisons to modern methods in mathematics are stressed. Prerequisite(s): Qualification for Presidential Scholars or a min 3.5 GPA with approval of dean for Liberal Arts and mathematic proficiency.