FC 119 - Schedule and Assignments
Class Day
1 Jan 15 M Introduction, history and philosophy of course, expectations,
assignments, exams (none), papers, grading
2 17 W Towers of Hanoi
Readings: RIM, Habit and Problem Solving
3 19 F Chaos in the Classroom
4 22 M Chaos in the Classroom (continued)
5 24 W What mathematicians do
Readings: Davis & Hersh, Preface, Introduction, pp. 1-30
RIM, A Preview of Mathematics
Homework 1 due
6 26 F How mathematicians do it
7 29 M Listener response workshop with allies on writing exercise
8 31 W What mathematicians are and how they are viewed
Readings: Davis & Hersh, pp. 32-65
Selection of topic and free-write of paper 1
Homework 2 due
9 Feb 2 F What mathematicians are and how they are viewed (continued)
Summary of free-write of paper 1
10 5 M First draft of paper 1
Listener response workshop with allies on draft of paper 1
11 7 W Why mathematics works, mathematical models, utility
Readings: Davis & Hersh, pp. 68-89
RIM, What Kepler Found and What Kepler Missed
12 9 F Second draft of paper 1
Listener response workshop with peers on draft of paper 1
Videotape: The Mechanical Universe, The Kepler Problem
13 12 M Symbols, notation, abstraction, generalization
Readings: Davis & Hersh, pp. 122-136
RIM, Numbers
14 14 W Symbols, notation, abstraction, generalization (continued)
Aesthetics in mathematics, pattern, order, chaos, algorithmic and
dialectic mathematics
Readings: Davis & Hersh, pp. 168-186
RIM, Patterns in Numbers and Nature
Paper 1 due
15 16 F Aesthetics in mathematics, pattern, order, chaos, algorithmic and
dialectic mathematics (continued)
16 19 M Teaching and learning mathematics
Readings: Davis & Hersh, pp. 272-284
17 21 W Proof in mathematics
Readings: Davis & Hersh, pp. 147-151
Videotape: NOVA, Mathematical Mystery Tour
Homework 3 due
18 23 F Early Greek mathematics, Hippocrates' quadrature of the lune
(ca. 440 BC)
Readings: Dunham, Chapter 1
19 26 M Early Greek mathematics (continued)
20 28 W Early Greek mathematics (continued)
21 Mar 1 F Greek mathematics, Euclid's "Elements", Euclid's proof of the
Pythagorean Theorem and its converse (ca. 300 BC)
Readings: Dunham, Chapter 2
Homework 4 due
22 4 M Greek mathematics (continued)
23 6 W Greek mathematics (continued)
7-17 Spring Break
24 18 M Archimedes' determination of the area of a circle (ca. 225 BC)
Readings: Dunham, Chapter 4
Homework 5 due
25 20 W Archimedes (continued)
26 22 F Archimedes (continued)
Paper 2 due
27 25 M Mathematics of the Italian Renaissance, Cardano and the solution
of the cubic equation (1545)
Readings: Dunham, Chapter 6
28 27 W Mathematics of the Italian Renaissance (continued)
29 29 F Mathematics of the Italian Renaissance (continued)
Homework 6 due
30 Apr 1 M Chaos, fractals, and dynamics
Readings: Dunham, pp. 155-165, 177-183
31 3 W Chaos, fractals, and dynamics (continued)
5-8 Easter Break
32 10 W Chaos, fractals, and dynamics (continued)
Homework 7 due
33 12 F Inverse problems, brachistochrone problem, CT scan
Readings: Dunham, pp. 184-196, 199-202
34 15 M Inverse problems, brachistochrone problem, CT scan (continued)
35 17 W Inverse problems, brachistochrone problem, CT scan (continued)
Homework 8 due
36 19 F More inverse problems, coding and decoding
Readings: Dunham, pp. 207-212, 235-244
37 22 M More inverse problems, coding and decoding (continued)
Paper 3 due
38 24 W More inverse problems, coding and decoding (continued)
39 26 F Finite and infinity, countability and uncountability
Readings: Dunham, Chapter 11
40 29 M Finite and infinity, countability and uncountability (continued)
41 May 1 W Finite and infinity, countability and uncountability (continued)
Homework 9 due
42 2 R Overflow and review
9 R Final Exam (8:30-11:30 AM)