MA177
Change, Probability, and Numbers
Topics in the Mathematics of the Eighteenth Century

General

• Syllabus
• Guide to the Coursepack

Handouts

• Discussion points for Bullock's "literacy" article.
• Hints for reading Euler's "Konigsberg" article.
• The Math Anxiety Club elections: introducing questiongs about voting.
• Discussion questions on voting and elections.
• Speed and Distance: problems for discussion.
• What to look for in Newton and Berkeley.
• Re-reading Daston's "Fitting Numbers to the World."
• What Fermat Says, in his various letters. about "properties of numbers".
• Euler's 1736 proof of "Fermat's Little Theorem".

• Assignment 0: Automathography by email

• Library Assignment 1: Your eighteenth-century mathematicians

• Library Assignment 2: Periodical Literature.

Exams

• Midterm Exam.
• How to prepare for the final exam.

Term Paper

• The (almost) perfect paper: a checklist for self-evaluation.
• Hints for writing papers (with thanks to Prof. Suisheng Zhao).
• A list of possible topics for your MA177 term paper.
• Note that, to avoid clustering assignments, the due date for your final paper has been changed to Thursday, December 18. Your paper should be turned in by 5:00pm that day.