Associating Mathematics to its History: Connecting the Mathematics we Teach to its Past

Authors

Joseph M. Furner, Florida Atlantic UniversityFollow
Ernest A. Brewer

Abstract

Across the USA and around the world now, globalization has taken a strong hold. The purpose of this paper is to explore the historical considerations that can be incorporated in the teaching of mathematics. The paper will also provide suggestions for teaching math by interweaving historical elements into the mathematics instruction. Teachers should strive to bridge the cultural and historical gap among all students by incorporating innovative ideas as well as historical and cultural connections into their teaching so to foster understanding, appreciation, and tolerance for the richness inherent in diversity and a sound understanding of mathematics and appreciation for other cultures and their contributions to the field of mathematics. It is often believed that no other subject besides math dissociates itself from its history. This paper makes an attempt to give teachers ideas to incorporate more history in the teaching of mathematics by showing what was going on at the time that may have influenced the development of such mathematics that we now teach in our classrooms of today.

First Page

4

Last Page

21

Recommended Citation

Furner, Joseph M. and Brewer, Ernest A. (2016) "Associating Mathematics to its History: Connecting the Mathematics we Teach to its Past," Transformations: Vol. 2: Iss. 2, Article 2.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/transformations/vol2/iss2/2