Believe it, or not, the term mathematics has nothing to do with numbers, algebra, geometry, or anything like that! It was a term that was first coined a little before 500 BC by the community that studied and lived with Pythagoras in their community at Croton in southern Italy. They developed the term from the Greek word μάθημα (mathema) which meant subject of instruction.
The term mathematics, therefore, meant subjects of instruction … particularly those subjects dealing with patterns and nature. Consequently, by the 16th Century, a scholar studying mathematics at university could expect to study music, astronomy, arithmetic, ballistics, fireworks, chemistry, geometry, the new cossick art (algebra), etc., all under the ‘umbrella’ of mathematics. I am sure students in schools today would enjoy broadening their studies in this way!
Of course, the development of mathematics dates from much earlier. From the time we assessed how much food we had, or whether someone had more than someone else, or whether we had sufficient to last for a period of time, we were using mathematical skills. This page will be steadily populated with anecdotes/stories from the history of mathematics, accounts of some of the amazing people who contributed to our understanding of this art, introductions to some of the famous theorems/concepts upon which our understanding is based, and even some explanation of where our symbols came from!
I attend university in the US and am starting the more difficult math courses. I have never studied and managed to stumble along for a very long time and now I have no idea what I am doing. I can follow along with lecture and understand what they are saying but when left on my own I have no clue what to do and where to start. So I’ve recommitted to start over and build a solid foundation. Looking around youtube alot I have found some good quick fix stuff but man I am converted to Graeme Hendersen. I really appreciate your very thorough approach to learning and can’t get enough of your explaining mathematical concepts. I am eating up everything and am excited to master math. Man, I sound super nerdy but it’s true. Thanks
Garett M (on a CCM YouTube video about How to Find the Equation of a Parallel Line in 4-5 Lines of Work)
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