Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Preface
- Introduction
- Contents
- Learning from the Medieval Master Masons: A Geometric Journey through the Labyrinth
- Dem Bones Ain't Dead: Napier's Bones in the Classroom
- The Towers of Hanoi
- Rectangular Protractors and the Mathematics Classroom
- Was Pythagoras Chinese?
- Geometric String Models of Descriptive Geometry
- The French Curve
- Area Without Integration: Make Your Own Planimeter
- Historical Mechanisms for Drawing Curves
- Learning from the Roman Land Surveyors: A Mathematical Field Exercise
- Equating the Sun: Geometry, Models, and Practical Computing in Greek Astronomy
- Sundials: An Introduction to Their History, Design, and Construction
- Why is a Square Square and a Cube Cubical?
- The Cycloid Pendulum Clock of Christiaan Huygens
- Build a Brachistochrone and Captivate Your Class
- Exhibiting Mathematical Objects: Making Sense of your Department's Material Culture
- About the Authors
Preface
- Frontmatter
- Preface
- Introduction
- Contents
- Learning from the Medieval Master Masons: A Geometric Journey through the Labyrinth
- Dem Bones Ain't Dead: Napier's Bones in the Classroom
- The Towers of Hanoi
- Rectangular Protractors and the Mathematics Classroom
- Was Pythagoras Chinese?
- Geometric String Models of Descriptive Geometry
- The French Curve
- Area Without Integration: Make Your Own Planimeter
- Historical Mechanisms for Drawing Curves
- Learning from the Roman Land Surveyors: A Mathematical Field Exercise
- Equating the Sun: Geometry, Models, and Practical Computing in Greek Astronomy
- Sundials: An Introduction to Their History, Design, and Construction
- Why is a Square Square and a Cube Cubical?
- The Cycloid Pendulum Clock of Christiaan Huygens
- Build a Brachistochrone and Captivate Your Class
- Exhibiting Mathematical Objects: Making Sense of your Department's Material Culture
- About the Authors
Summary
While teaching at the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York from 2000 to 2003, I had the immense good fortune to work with Fred Rickey on the history of the Olivier String Models owned by the USMA Department of Mathematical Sciences. Working with and researching these models became a joy for me. One question led to another, and I became acquainted with all aspects of the models.
To understand the models and present the mathematical concepts they depict to students, I had to learn the mathematics involved in both current and historical terms. I also had to learn about those who developed the mathematics as well as those who developed and constructed the models. One of the aspects of this work that I found the most intriguing was tracking the history of the actual models: who constructed them, who bought them, where have they been since their construction, etc. In many cases, this was the most difficult part of the research. Along the way, I learned a lot of history about the Academy itself and the mathematics department while researching the models through the USMA archives. Fred and I had great fun searching the department for a few missing models that the archives said we should have. We did find one, only a picture of another, and alas, never did find a third. But we also found many other old and forgotten teaching aides, such as a chalk board globe, which we enjoyed bringing back into use in the classroom.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Hands on HistoryA Resource for Teaching Mathematics, pp. vii - viiiPublisher: Mathematical Association of AmericaPrint publication year: 2007