Organizers: Zachery Keisler, Saluda High School, Saluda, SC (zkeisler@saludaschools.org); Josie Ryan, Lander University (pryan@lander.edu)
Anyone who has taken a history of mathematics course can describe in great detail how the ancient Greeks’ primary contribution to mathematics was the development of formal geometry and how Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz are the founders of calculus. However, very few people who take a history of mathematics course will be able to describe how the ancient Babylonians helped in the development of trigonometry or describe how in the late 1970s to the early 1980s Graciela Beatriz Salicrup López became a pioneer in the field of categorical topology.
The special session on unspoken history of mathematics will help shine a light on different cultures and historical figures that normally might not be covered in a traditional history of mathematics courses. Attendees to the Unspoken History of Mathematics will not only participate in talks that help shine a light on different cultures and historical figures but also help in revamping history of mathematics courses by creating units or projects that delve into the history of mathematics beyond western Europe to help students understand how diverse and rich the history of mathematics truly is.
This paper explores the historical roots of modern mathematics. It compares ancient Chinese problem solving with contemporary methods. The paper compares multiplication visuals to area models used today. This paper also compares the Fengcheng rule for solving systems of equations to the Gaussian Elimination method. It emphasizes the contribution of Chinese mathematics to the solving of systems of equations long before the Gaussian Elimination method was used in Europe. Through analyzing the introduction to the commentary on Nine Chapters on Mathematical Art, this paper highlights the contributions of mathematician Liu Hui to the field of mathematics. This paper touches on the importance of studying non-Western contributions to mathematics. Exploring non-Western mathematical techniques furthers our understanding of the discovery of mathematics.
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Liu Hui was one of the most renowned mathematicians in ancient China. He was primarily known for his approximation of $\pi$, the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. In this submission, I will provide a summary of some life stories of him that are in general little known, including his work on $\pi$, one of his books named the "Sea Island Mathematical Manual", his commentary on the classic Chinese mathematics book "the Nine Chapters", his very clever approach of the proof of the Pythagorean Theorem, his work on the bicylinder or the double box-lid model and etc.
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While the contention over the forefathers of calculus is well known, many are unaware of a similar conflict over the progenitor of algebra. Some contend this title belongs to Diophantus with his introduction of symbols for unknown quantities; others argue the moniker is more properly suited to al-Khwarizmi who's work better embodies abstraction from specific numbers and a more comprehensive approach to algebraic problems. In this talk, we will explore the merits of both sides of this debate. In doing so, we will see how Eastern mathematicians preserved and improved upon Western results and methods as the latter entered a dark period in its mathematical history.
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The contributions of women to mathematics have often been overlooked, yet their achievements have shaped the field in profound ways. In 2021, the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) released the first of four planned card decks, titled EvenQuads, highlighting notable women in mathematics. EvenQuads cards are double sided; one side of the cards shows symbols that appear in varying colors and quantities used to play various pattern seeking games and the other side features a profile of a woman mathematician who has made significant contributions to the field of mathematics. In this talk, we will spotlight some of the remarkable women mathematicians featured in the EvenQuads decks. By uncovering their lesser-known contributions and some of the challenges that they faced we gain a deeper appreciation for their resilience and the roles they played in shaping the field of mathematics. We will also briefly describe the games that can be played with the profile side of the cards and explore how they can be used in a mathematics classroom.
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In this session, I will share my experience designing an interdisciplinary course on the history of women in mathematics, starting with Hypatia in Ancient Alexandria and extending to Maryam Mirzakhani, the first woman to win the Fields Medal. The presentation will include a summary of the women covered in the course, highlights of their contributions within and outside mathematics, as well as examples of math activities used in the course. I will also touch on lessons learned in the design and unexpected insights into the narrative of women in mathematics.
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This article was written is a reflective mode after visiting the Grand Pyramid of Giza on January 02, 2025. Prime numbers and pyramid constructions are poles apart, yet an effort is made to build a bridge over them. In life, a bridge is only known for its one of the longest spans.
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Shing-Tung Yau is one of the most prolific geometers alive today, from being awarded the Fields Metal in 1984 for his contributions to partial differential equations and his proof of the Calabi Conjecture in algebraic geometry to publishing his book titled The Shape of Inner Space: String Theory and the Geometry of the Universe’s Hidden Dimensions with Steve Nadis in 2010. Today's talk will examine the major life events that molded Shing-Tung Yau into the geometer he is today while also examining the many contributions he made in the field of mathematics as a whole.
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