Catalogue description: Traces the development of mathemmatics in Western culture, beginning with Greek Geometry through recent applications such as cryptography and fractal geometry. Topics include the nature of mathematical knowledge, history of mathematics, geometry, elementary number theory and basic trigonometry. Prerequisites: Math 113 placement or MATH 104 or MATH 105 (grade C or better). Offered each spring.

The goal of Math 125 is to enlighten students to the rich and immense contributions mathematics has in creating the identity we share as persons in a Western society. This course will demonstrate the historical influence mathematics has on shaping Western culture and its sensibilities through art, science, music, language and philosophy.

Western civilization began with Ancient Greece, where the Pythagoreans established the mathematical arts: arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy. Later, European universities of the middle ages called these subjects the quadrivium which, coupled with the trivium, of grammar, rhetoric, and dialectics, comprise the seven original liberal arts. Philosophically, these arts are thought to liberate by teaching us how to think for ourselves through mathematics and language.

Articles: Hardy Grant , “Mathematics and The Liberal Arts I” College Math Journal: Volume 30, Number 2, pp. 96-105 (March 1999); Hardy Grant , “Mathematics and The Liberal Arts II” College Math Journal: Volume 30, Number 3, pp. 197-20 (May 1999).

Texts: 1. Euclid's Elements - All thirteen books in one volume, Sir Thomas L. Heath translation, Dana Densmore, Editor, Green Lion Press, Santa Fe, NM (2002).

2. Hans Magnus Enzensberger, The Number Devil, A Mathematical Adventure, Henry Holt and Co., New York (1997).

3. Marty Lewinter and William Widulski, The Saga of Mathematics, A Brief History, Prentice Hall (2002).

2. To appreciate the history of mathematics and its influence in Western culture.

3. To analyze sophisticated concepts and arguments in conversation and in writing.

Class participation and assignments: Class meetings will be combination of lecture, discussion and presentation. The effectiveness of classtime will depend on student preparation. Read each assignment and work each exercise and be prepared to discuss each. The homework exercises will be handed out on a regular basis. At some time, each of you will be asked to make a presentation of one of these in class. You will also be asked to participate in on-line discussions.

On-line discussion and posting: At times, we will be using the web-based course-facilitating software Blackboard for on-line discussions. You may also be asked to post solutions to homework exercises or other results so that they are accessible to the rest of the class. You access Blackboard from the VWC home page and login with your standard username - what precedes @vwc.edu in your e-mail address. Your password will be the last 4 digits of your SS#.

Quizzes: Each day, following a reading assignment, there will be a short quiz on those readings.

Paper: A five to seven page paper providing more in-depth research and analysis on some aspect of how development of mathematics influenced Western culture will be written by each student. The paper must have a stated thesis and its general topic must be approved by the instructor. The paper is to be turned in May 6.

Midterm: An in class midterm consisting of a mix of short answer and essay questions will be given. See the course outline for the material it will cover.

Final exam: Comprehensive exam administered Saturday May 8, 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Blocker 16

Attendance: Participating in the class experience is vital to learning; and learning is more than just reading a textbook and completing assignments. It involves developing your identity as a member of the college community by associating with people who are participating in the learning process. Likewise, the classroom is not the sole venue for learning, but it is where the process begins. When you miss class, you miss that catalyst. Therefore, regular attendance is required. You are allowed 2 excused absences. Each absence after two will mean 2 points deducted from your final average.

Also, as persons who respect others time and effort, we all should be in class on time. Habitual tardiness is a sign of disrespect to the instructors and your classmates. Personal responsibility, an important value in the VWC academic community, includes showing up, showing up on time and showing up ready to go to work.

Makeups: There will be no make-ups for the quizzes. A make-up for the midterm may be given only if I am notified the day of the exam with a valid excuse. Since both of my phone numbers as well as my e-mail address are listed and my weekly schedule is included in this document, there is no reason that you cannot contact me. THere will be no change in the final exam time or a male-up given.

Late Work: Homework assignments are to be turned in at the beginning of the class on the day they are due. Do not expect extensions of deadlines. Late work, dropped off at my office (or any other location) without my prior notice, will not be accepted.

Academic Honesty: The VWC academic community values mutual trust and honor. A community of scholars cannot flourish without them. The use of grades to indicate relative achievement in a course is a valid technique only if we can assume that each student's work is an independent expression of that person's knowledge and ability. In the academic world, therefore, it is an unacceptable breach of trust to represent the thoughts of others as your own. Disrespect for this ethical standard in the form of cheating, plagiarism, or any other act intended to advance your comparative standing in this course by deceit or interference with the work of others will be treated as a violation of the Virginia Wesleyan Honor Code.

Accordingly, the Virginia Wesleyan Honor Code applies to this class in the following way: All work handed in to be graded should be the work solely of the person (or persons) whose name is placed on it. Any violation of this will fall into at least one of the categories in "Section II: Definitions" of the Honor Code and will be handled as such. Having said that, we trust each student is honorable and will comply with the Honor Code. Violations of this trust are considered serious. If evidence of such exist, penalties may include failing this course and being turned in to the Honor Court for further disciplinary measures. Please read the relevant sections of the current STUDENT HANDBOOK for further information about policies and procedures designed to encourage academic honesty.

Accommodations for students with special needs: The standard procedures for meeting the responsibilities associated with this course can be modified for students with certain disabilities. To qualify for such accommodations, a student must provide the college with appropriate professional documentation that confirms to our satisfaction the presence of the disability. To begin the confirmation process or for further information about it, contact our coordinator of disability services, Fayne Pearson, at 455-3246.

Week	Reading Assignment (HG: “Math and the Liberal Arts”, HME: Number Devil, LW: Saga of Mathematics, E: Euclid's Elements)
1	HG I
2	HME - p. 1 - 64
3	HME - p. 65 - 124
4	HME - p. 125 - 188
5	HME - p. 189 - 253
6	LW - p. 1 - 38
7	LW - p. 39 - 88
8	LW - p. 89 - 124
9	LW - p. 125 - 188
10	LW - p. 189 - 248
11-12	Euclid (E)
13-14	Trigonometry and extra topics
	Final Exam: Saturday, May 8, 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.