NYU Mathematics Essay

Mathematics History Portfolio: This semester you will create a portfolio to research select topics on the historical development of mathematics. It has three parts as follows.

Part 1: For each of the eight math content areas (Number and Quantity, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Statistics, Probability, Calculus, and Discrete Mathematics), you need to submit one double-spaced typed page for each to give eight pages in all for this section of the portfolio. You are free to choose which area of the topic you would like to research (e.g., historical figure contributing to that topic, significant discovery, etc.). You should include the contributions from diverse cultures throughout your portfolio (e.g., Africa, Pre-Columbian Americas, Asia, Middle East, etc.). While contributions from diverse cultures should appear throughout, you must include diverse contributions in at least three of the mathematics content areas.

Part 2: Additionally, you will provide one page each explaining how to represent numbers in the following three numeral systems to have an additional three pages total: Egyptian, Babylonian, and Maya.

Part 3: Finally, you will provide one page each for a proof of the Pythagorean Theorem and the proof that the square root of two is irrational to provide an additional two pages total.

The total assignment is 13 pages in all with an additional page each for your cover sheet and your reference page to provide 15 pages total including cover sheet and reference page.

Note: Please place the entire project into a single Word or PDF document. Separate attachments will not be accepted. Please place the portfolio in order (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3). Also, keep to the order of content areas found below in the rubric (e.g., Part 1: Number and Quantity, Algebra, etc.; Part 2: Egyptian Numbers, Babylonian Numbers, etc.; Part 3: Pythagorean Theorem, Square Root of 2 is irrational). Label each page with the content area that you are addressing (e.g., Number and Quantity, Algebra, etc.). For Part 1, while you are free to choose which area you want to address, each content area must be addressed (Number and Quantity, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Statistics, Probability, Calculus, and Discrete Mathematics). Remember that Part 1 is flexible and your choice, while Parts 2 and 3 are more specifically assigned.