Description
The history of mathematics is not history alone, nor is it mathematics alone, but a subject requiring sympathy for and knowledge of the techniques of both disciplines. The aim of the course is to provide a survey of mathematical thought from the earliest times up to the early nineteenth century, so that students may see, for example, how Archimedes obtained his famous bounds for π and how non-Euclidean geometry was discovered. While the material of the course is delivered in the lectures, with additional notes provided, students are expected to read some primary sources from the set anthology of mathematical writings as well as specific chapters from the standard histories. The basic requirement for the course is a good understanding of high school calculus, algebra and geometry but there are also one or two more challenging topics which demand a slightly higher level of mathematics. It is also advantageous to have a good command of written English.
Module deliveries for 2024/25 academic year
Last updated
This module description was last updated on 19th August 2024.
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