MA 330: History of Mathematics
Spring 2011 – Tentative Schedule

Textbook: Journey through Genius by William Dunham

Jan 12

Day 1

Introduction to course and introductory material
Syllabus discussion

Jan 14

Day 2

Journey through Genius: Preface

Homework 1 due

Jan 17

 

NO CLASSES – Martin Luther King Day

Jan 19

Day 3

Journey through Genius: Chapter 1, pp 1 – 17
Extending the remarks on page 10 of Journey through Genius, familiarize yourself with a proof that  is irrational that does not use results about decimal expansions. (Wikipedia is one possible source.)
Homework 2 due

Jan 21

Day 4

Journey through Genius: Chapter 1, pp 17--26

Jan 24

Day 5

Journey through Genius: Chapter 2, pp 27--44

Jan 26

Day 6

Journey through Genius: Chapter 2, pp 44—53

Homework 3 due

Jan 28

Day 7

Journey through Genius: Chapter 2/3, pp 53--68

Jan 31

Day 8

Journey through Genius: Chapter 3, pp 68—75
Extending the remarks on page 69 of Journey through Genius, familiarize yourself with a proof that the Euclidean algorithm works. (Wikipedia is one possible source.)

Feb 2

Day 9

Journey through Genius: Chapter 3, pp 75—83
Course Project Topic Due
Homework 4 due

Feb 4

Day 10

Journey through Genius: Chapter 4, pp 84--99

Feb 7

Day 11

Journey through Genius: Chapter 4, pp 99-112

Feb 9

Day 12

Journey through Genius: Chapter 5, pp 113—118
Homework 5 due

Feb 11

Day 13

Journey through Genius: Chapter 5, pp 118--132

Feb 14

Day 14

Journey through Genius: Chapter 6, pp 133--142

Feb 16

Day 15

Journey through Genius: Chapter 6, pp 142—154
Homework 6 due

Feb 18

Day 16

Journey through Genius: Chapter 7, pp 155--165

Feb 21

Day 17

Journey through Genius: Chapter 7, pp 165--171

Feb 23

Day 18

Journey through Genius: Chapter 7, pp 171—174
Homework 7 due

Feb 25

Day 19

No class

Feb 28

Day 20

Journey through Genius: Chapter 7, pp 174--183

Mar 2

Day 21

PEER EDIT DAY: First Version of Course Project Due

Mar 4

Day 22

Introduction to LATEX

Mar 7

Day 23

Introduction to LATEX

Mar 9

Day 24

Introduction to LATEX
Homework 8 due

Mar 11

Day 25

LATEX Project due

Mar 14

NO CLASSES – Spring Break

Mar 16

NO CLASSES – Spring Break

Mar 18

NO CLASSES – Spring Break

Mar 21

Day 26

Journey through Genius: Chapter 8, pp 184--190

Mar 23

Day 27

Journey through Genius: Chapter 8, pp 191—199
Homework 9 due

Mar 25

Day 28

Journey through Genius: Chapter 8, pp 202--206

Mar 28

Day 29

Journey through Genius: Chapter 9, pp 207--212

Mar 30

Day 30

Journey through Genius: Chapter 9, pp 212—218

Homework 10 due

Apr 1

Day 31

Journey through Genius: Chapter 9, pp 218--222

Apr 4

Day 32

Journey through Genius: Chapter 10, pp 223--229

Apr 6

Day 33

Journey through Genius: Chapter 10, pp 229—235
Homework 11 due

Apr 8

Day 34

Journey through Genius: Chapter 10, pp 235—244
Following up on Journey through Genius page 239, familiarize yourself with a detailed statement of the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra. (Wikipedia is one possible source.)

Apr 11

Day 35

No Reading

Apr 13

Day 36

No Reading

Apr 15

Day 37

Final Version of Course Project Due

Apr 18

Day 38

Journey through Genius: Chapter 11, pp 245--258

Apr 20

Day 39

Journey through Genius: Chapter 11, pp 259—266
Homework 12 Due

Apr 22

Day 40

Journey through Genius: Chapter 12, pp 267--273

Apr 25

Day 41

Journey through Genius: Chapter 12, pp 274--286

Apr 27

Day 42

Journey through Genius: pp 285—286

Apr 29

Day 43

No Reading

May 2

Final Exam: 08:00 – 10:00 AM