MATH433-21S2 (C) Semester Two 2021

Mathematics in Perspective

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 19 July 2021
End Date: Sunday, 14 November 2021
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 1 August 2021
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Friday, 1 October 2021

Description

Mathematics in Perspective

What is mathematics? What are some of the key moments in the history of Mathematics? What kinds of mathematical results are considered important, and why?

This course is about the history, philosophy, people and major results of mathematics over the centuries. Since we will minimise the attention paid to technical details, the course should be accessible not only to those with a 200 level Mathematics background, but also to intellectually mature students in Philosophy and related subjects. In particular, it is strongly recommended for anyone who intends teaching Mathematics at any level from primary school onwards.

See MATH380.

Learning Outcomes

  • Students who have succeeded in this course will:

  • be able to access information about the history and philosophy of mathematics from a variety of sources, and to critically evaluate that information,
  • know about some major developments in the history and philosophy of mathematics,
  • understand these developments in terms of the historical context in which they occurred and in terms of their relationship to modern mathematics,
  • know some of the story of our developing understanding of mathematics in other times and cultures, and be able to analyze critically the arguments involved,
  • be able to communicate with peers and with lay people about developments and themes in the history and philosophy of mathematics.

Prerequisites

Subject to approval of the Head of School.

Restrictions

MATH380, HAPS405

Course Coordinator / Lecturer

Clemency Montelle

Lecturers

Phillip Wilson and Jeanette McLeod

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,000.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Mathematics and Statistics .

All MATH433 Occurrences

  • MATH433-21S2 (C) Semester Two 2021