Almost 400 years ago, in The Assayer, Galileo wrote: “Philosophy is written in this grand book, the universe … [But the book] is written in the language of mathematics.” He was much more than an astronomer, and this can almost be thought of as the first writing on the scientific method. We do not know who […] … learn more→
Tag Archives: mathematics

A universe without mathematics is beyond the scope of our imagination

Studying maths post-GCSEs aids brain development – should it be compulsory?
Teenagers who stick to maths beyond the age of 16 have greater levels of certain brain chemicals that are critical for cognitive development, according to new research from the University of Oxford. The researchers, led by cognitive neuroscientist Roi Cohen Kadosh , found that students who dropped maths at 16 produced less gamma-aminobutyric acid than those who soldiered on. […] … learn more→

Back to the Future of Mathematics: If Hypatia raised her head
The mathematical Hypatia of Alexandria climbs into a DeLorian DMC-12 well loaded with plutonium. Enter the date of October 21, 2015. It accelerates to 88 miles per hour and… it appears 1,600 years later. If Marty McFly, the protagonist of Back to the Future II , finds notable differences in a journey of barely 30 years, Hypatia finds his journey shocking. […] … learn more→

Without mathematics Spain will not be able to compete with the rest of the world
From time to time, mathematicians recall this paragraph from Galileo Galilei’s The Assayer : The [natural] philosophy is written in that great book that we have open before our eyes (I mean, the universe), but it cannot be understood if one does not first learn to understand the language, to know the characters in which it is written. It […] … learn more→

How to learn mathematics the smart way- A definitive guide!
It seems that the majority of the students know about Mathematics but do not understand the concept behind it. This is nothing but the fear of complex and rigid formulas and analytical problem-solving skills. However, the solution is comparatively easy, and subjects like this provide well-paid jobs in the field of engineering, statistics, education, and […] … learn more→

Mathematics is about wonder, creativity and fun, so let’s teach it that way
Alice in Wonderland enthusiasts recently celebrated the story’s anniversary with creative events like playing with puzzles and time — and future Alice exhibits are in the works. The original 1865 children’s book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, sprung from a mathematician’s imagination, continues to inspire exploration and fun. But is a connection between math and creativity captured in schools? Much […] … learn more→

The racial lens blocks vision
Angry student: “Why do I have to learn algebra? I’m only going to be teaching eight year olds!” Me: “Because the parents of eight year olds want their teachers to know more than an eight year old.” –I used to get Education majors quite often in my math courses, before they became cloistered into special […] … learn more→

How to get children to enjoy mathematics
With the help of an adult and the right strategies, children can learn to love mathematics. If we take advantage of the early ages, you can shape your taste for this discipline with very simple steps: 1. Never say “I hated mathematics” (even if it was true) Probably, she would be more embarrassed to tell him […] … learn more→

Why I use knitting to teach math
On a snowy day in January, I asked students to tell me what was the first word that came to mind when thinking about mathematics. The two most quoted words were “calculus” and “equation”. When I asked the same question to a room full of professional mathematicians, none of these two words were spoken; they […] … learn more→

Five ways ancient India changed the world – with maths
It should come as no surprise that the first recorded use of the number zero, recently discovered to be made as early as the 3rd or 4th century, happened in India. Mathematics on the Indian subcontinent has a rich history going back over 3,000 years and thrived for centuries before similar advances were made in […] … learn more→