History of Mathematics

Catalog description

This course is an in-depth historical study of the development of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus in Western mathematics (Europe and the Near East) from ancient times up through the 19th century, including highlights from the mathematical works of such figures as Euclid, Archimedes, Diophantus, Fibonacci, Cardano, Napier, Descartes, Fermat, Pascal, Newton, Leibniz, Euler, and Gauss. A term paper on some aspect of the history of mathematics is required. (offered in alternate years)