Spring 2008

MASTER OF ARTS PROGRAM IN MATHEMATICS EDUCATION

 

Math 630 –Section 301

History of Mathematics/Problem Solving I

 Room 254, Schmidt Academic Center (S.A.C.)

 

Saturday, March 29, 9:00-5:00

Sunday, March 30, 9:00-3:00

Saturday, April 26, 9:00-5:00

Saturday, May 31, 9:00-5:00

Sunday, June 1, 9:00-3:00

 

Instructor: Stefan Catoiu

Office: 526 S.A.C. (2320 N. Kenmore Avenue)

Phone: (773) 325-4669  

E-mail: scatoiu@condor.depaul.edu

Office hours: TuTh 4:30-5:30                    

 

Textbook: The History of Mathematics: An Introduction, by David M. Burton, Sixth Edition, McGraw-Hill. (Fifth edition is also good)

 

Course description: This is the first of a two-quarter course in the history of mathematics. It covers the period from the most ancient times to the Renaissance of Mathematics, and hopefully we will be able to get to the Mechanical World of Descartes and Newton. The course is designed for education and mathematics majors and for any other students interested in learning great topics of mathematics in their historical perspective. The focus will be on solving problems like the ones that concerned mathematicians from the above period, and for this reason the course will look more like a math course than a history course. To some extent, this class will provide you with new ideas, topics, and materials that you might like to use with your teaching.

 

 

Exams and Grading Policy: The grade for the class will be computed as follows:

 

Midterm:150 points  -  Saturday, April 26, 9:00-10:00.

Final :     150 points – Due Friday, June 6, at 1:00 PM.

 

Your total score divided by 3 will be a number between 0 and 100. The grade will be computed as follows:                              

87-100 ……….…A

75-87……………B

62-75……………C                                                   

50-62……………D

00-50……………F

 

Review Session: Wednesday, April 23, 6:00 -- 8:00PM.

University Policy on Academic Integrity: DePaul University is a learning community

That fosters the pursuit of knowledge and the transmission of ideas within a context that emphasizes a sense of responsibility for oneself, for others and for society at large. Violations of academic integrity, in any forms, are therefore detrimental to the values of  DePaul, to the students, and to the pursuit of knowledge and the transmission of ideas. Violations of academic integrity include but are not limited to the following categories: cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, falsification or sabotage of research data, destruction or misuse of the university’s academic resources, alteration or falsification of academic records, and academic misconduct. Conduct that is punishable under the Academic Integrity Policy will, at the discretion of the instructor, result in the student’s receiving an F for the course and could result in additional disciplinary actions by other university officials and possible civil or criminal prosecution. For more details regarding Code of Academic Integrity, please refer to the Student Handbook section on Academic Integrity Policy . (http://www.depaul.edu/~handbook/code17.html)