Trent University, Fall 2011
Mathematics 3810H
Ancient and classical mathematics
MATH 3810H is a survey of the history of mathematics from prehistory through classical times.
Prerequisite: Mathematics 1100 [formerly 110]
Recommended: Mathematics 2200H [formerly 220H] or Mathematics 2350H [formerly 235H].
Exclusion: Mathematics 380 and Mathematics 381H.
Instructor | Text | Marking | Meetings | Content | Honour & Help | Handouts & Work | Other sources
Stefan's Exam Period Office Hours
Monday, 12 December, 13:00-15:00
Tuesday, 13 December, 13:00-15:00
Friday, 16 December, 10:00-12:00
Monday, 19 December, 10:00-12:00
Stefan Bilaniuk
office: GCS 337
hours: Monday and Wednesday 12:00-12:50, Tuesday and Thursday 11:00-11:50, or by appointment, or just drop by.
phone: 705 748-1011 x7474
home phone: 705 742-7862 [Do not call between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. unless it's an emergency.]
e-mail: sbilaniuk{at}trentu{dot}ca and stefanbilaniuk{at}cogeco{dot}ca
[E-mail sent to my Trent address sometimes just vanishes. If it's important, send it to both.]
web: http:/euclid.trentu.ca/math/sb/
The Historical Roots of Elementary Mathematics, by Lucas N.H. Bunt, Phillip S. Jones, & Jack D. Bedient
Dover Publications, New York, 1988, ISBN 0-486-253563-8
We will also make some use of the following book:
A Short Account of the History of Mathematics (4th Edition), by W.W. Rouse Ball, 1908.
Available free online from Project Gutenberg at: http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/31246
Additional readings will be assigned from other sources available online. Please see the handout Readings & Schedule (pdf) for a tentative week-by-week schedule.
Lectures: Monday 13:00-13:50 in SC W4, Tuesday 14:00-14:50 ESC B319, and Thursday 12:00-12:50 in SC W1.
Seminars: Monday 10:00-10:50 in SC W2.
There will be five or six fortnightly assignments, a project (including a proposal), and a take-home final examination. The assignments will be handed out and collected every other week, the project proposal will be due on 20 October, and the project itself will be due near the end of the examination period on 20 December. The final examination will be distributed on 23 November, two weeks before the last day of classes, and will be due on 20 December. The final mark will be calculated as follows:
| Best 4 assignments (4 @ 10% ea.) | 40% |
| Project proposal | 5% |
| Project | 25% |
| Final Examination | 30% |
Assignments will not normally be accepted after the due date. Students who miss any work for reasons beyond their control should contact the instructor as soon as possible; when possible, the instructor will try to offer opportunities to extend deadlines, make up missing work, or extend other accommodation.
This scheme may be modified for students in exceptional circumstances. Any such modification will require the agreement of both the student and the instructor.
The last date to drop Fall half-courses without academic penalty is Wednesday, 9 November.
We will survey the historical development of some important parts of mathematics. In particular, we will focus on the development of number systems and algebra, and the evolution of proofs and abstraction. In rough chronological order, we will consider mathematics in:
Additional material may be covered on the assignments and projects.
The obligatory statement concerning academic integrity reads as follows:
Academic dishonesty, which includes plagiarism and cheating, is an extremely serious academic offence and carries penalties varying from a 0 grade on an assignment to expulsion from the University. Definitions, penalties, and procedures for dealing with plagiarism and cheating are set out in Trent University's Academic Integrity Policy. You have a responsibility to educate yourself - unfamiliarity with the policy is not an excuse. You are strongly encouraged to visit Trent's Academic Integrity website to learn more - www.trentu.ca/academicintegrity .
For clarity, the following guidelines will apply in MATH 3810H:
You are permitted and encouraged to ask anyone willing (especially the instructor!) for explanations, hints, and suggestions on the assignments and projects, and to consult whatever sources you wish, with the exceptions that you may not consult anyone who has taken a similar course recently or their work. However, all work submitted for credit must be written up entirely by you (with the exception of group projects), giving due credit to all relevant sources of help and information. The take-home final exam will have more restrictive conditions that will be spelled out on the exam.
In some circumstances you may also be eligible for special help or accommodation. The obligatory statement concerning access to instruction reads as follows:
It is Trent University's intent to create an inclusive learning environment. If a student has a disability and/or health consideration and feels that he/she may need accommodations to succeed in this course, the student should contact the Disability Services Office (Blackburn Hall Suite 132, 705 748-1281, disabilityservices{at}trentu{dot}ca) as soon as possible. Complete text can be found under Access to Instruction in the Academic Calendar.
Aids: Except as noted on particular questions on the assignments and final exam, and with the general restriction noted above, you may use whatever aids you wish.
Note that "personal response systems" such as clickers will not be used in MATH 3810H. Also, MATH 3810H will make only minimal use of myLearningSystem (a.k.a. WebCT); the main use will be to link to the MATH 3810H home page.
Mostly in PDF format:
Stuff from previous years:
This is not an exhaustive list!
Various general mathematics journals occasionally publish articles about the history of mathematics. Search!
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Department of Mathematics
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