History of Mathematics

MAT 336 -Fall 2023

Presentation rubric

Points
Before The student's group made an appointment to rehearse the presentation at least six days before presenting to the class. (Note: The appointment cannot be made the day of the rehearsal). The presenter is ready by the time of the rehearsal. 3
Bibliography The bibliography contained a relevant book, an appropriate primary source and an appropriate secondary sources. These three items are used in the presentation. 10
Content The information given reflects deep understanding and effective summarization. The presentation is addressed to an audience who are not necessarily mathematicians, rather somebody who know some mathematics (say, sophomore Math major, at Stony Brook who know what a proof is.) 2
Content The presentation has mathematical content and this mathematical content is clear, correct and relevant. The math point is clearly explained. There is at least one relevant example related to the math point. 6
Content The presentation has historical content that is related to the mathematical content. The historical content can be, depending on the topic, relevant biographical facts, or a historical frame. Timelines are recommended. 4
Delivery The presenter performance did not consist is reading from the slides or the notes. Every word and sentence in the slides are understood by the presenter. (For instance, do not write a word whose meaning you do no understand). 4
Delivery The presenter performance lasts between 8 and 10 minutes. 2
Delivery The presentation includes a relevant handout and/or a learning activity for the class. (A few extra minutes can be added if the learning activity requires it) 2
Structure There is a good introduction, briefly explaining the historical-mathematical frame of the topic. The presentation had a clearly defined structure with appropriate transitions and the audience is able to follow it. 2
Structure The presentation starts with one relevant question. The audience will answer these questions after the presentation (and they should be able to do it, in other words, the answer of the question must be "contained" in the presentation) Example: In the first of our lectures, several definitions of mathematics were discussed; a question could be "Do you think that there is a preferred definition of mathematics? Justify your answer." 1
Structure The presentation ends with a slide containing the bibliography and a slide repeating the initial question. 1
Slides The slides display elements of effective design. Fonts, colors, backgrounds, etc. are not too busy. They are effective, consistent and appropriate to the topic and audience. 2
Slides There are no screenshots or photos from text of papers, books or websites. (If you think you really need to use screenshots, discuss it with me beforehand.) Images were appropriate and contributed to the understanding. Diagrams, figures and tables are clearly captioned, and, if appropriate, they include credits. Illustrations, tables and diagrams created by the students are encouraged. 3
Slides The slides did not contain more than 150 words (that is, the sum of the words in each slide is less than 150). Note: If you really need to put more than 150 words, discuss it with me beforehand. 3

Topic distribution - Lecture 1 (3pm)

Week Topic First Name
5 The Beginnings of Probability Theory Joshua
5 Pascal and the Invention of Probability Theory Rui
5 The Evolution of the Normal Distribution Aidan
6 Euler and the proof of the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra Zijie
6 A Sampler of Euler's Number Theory Rachel
6 The Extraordinary Sums of Leonhard Euler Eric
7 Gauss and the Regular Polygon of Seventeen Sides Shanshan
7 Gauss-Jordan Reduction: A Brief History Xuhui
7 On Gauss's First Proof of the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra Xiang
8 How Ptolemy constructed trigonometry tables Jhosseline
8 How Kepler Discovered the Elliptical Orbit Sophia
8 The Discovery of Ceres: How Gauss Became Famous Angelo
9 Stevin on decimal fractions Daniel
9 Viète's use of decimal fractions Thomas
9 Origin and Evolution of the Secant Method in One Dimension Andrew
10 Heron's Formula for Triangular Area Emma
10 Diophantus and The birth of Literal Algebra Xander
11 China The "piling up squares"in Ancient China Arjun
11 Set Theory The Non-Denumerabilty of the Continuum Kyle
11 Cantor and the Transfinite Realm Alfayed
12 The Discovery of the Series Formula for π by Leibniz, Gregory and Nilakantha Calvin
12 Ancient Indian Square Roots Alaba
12 Multiplication from Lilavati to the Summa Mark Vincent
13 The Algebra of Abu Kamil Pengyu
13 Ramanujan's Notebooks Justine
14 Ideas of Calculus in Islam and India Michael
14 The Evolution of Integration Xiaoyi
14 The Lost Calculus (1637-1670): Tangency and Optimization without Limits Miles

Topic distribution - Lecture 2 (9:45am)

Week Topic First Name
Kayla 5 The Beginnings of Probability Theory
Aysia 5 Pascal and the Invention of Probability Theory
Stanley 5 The Evolution of the Normal Distribution
Victoria 6 Euler and the proof of the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra
Zuqing 6 A Sampler of Euler's Number Theory
Vincent 6 The Extraordinary Sums of Leonhard Euler
Ryan 7 Gauss and the Regular Polygon of Seventeen Sides
Oscar 7 Gauss-Jordan Reduction: A Brief History
Michael 7 On Gauss's First Proof of the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra
Haolong 8 How Ptolemy constructed trigonometry tables
Bryan 8 How Kepler Discovered the Elliptical Orbit
Yi 8 The Discovery of Ceres: How Gauss Became Famous
Matthew 9 Stevin on decimal fractions
Deshen 9 Viète's use of decimal fractions
Wenjun 9 Origin and Evolution of the Secant Method in One Dimension
Brandon 10 Heron's Formula for Triangular Area
Jayleen 10 Diophantus and The birth of Literal Algebra
Qiting 10 Hippocrates' Quadrature of the Lune
Ana 11 China The "piling up squares"in Ancient China
Melanie 11 Set Theory The Non-Denumerabilty of the Continuum
Zhe 11 Cantor and the Transfinite Realm
Vruti 12 Ancient Indian Square Roots
Alina 12 The Discovery of the Series Formula for π by Leibniz, Gregory and Nilakantha
Connor 12 Multiplication from Lilavati to the Summa
Vivian 13 The Algebra of Abu Kamil
Oliwia 13 Ramanujan's Notebooks or The Indian Mathematician Ramanujan
Longzhen 13 The use of series in Hindu mathematics (indication.)
Shien 14 Ideas of Calculus in Islam and India
Yufei 14 The Evolution of Integration
Andy 14 The Lost Calculus (1637-1670): Tangency and Optimization without Limits
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