Wednesday 8 April 2015

Mathematics as a Way of Knowing


I was placed into group 1 and I picked the task of researching on the mathematical branch known as Geometry. Geometry ifrom the Ancient Greek word 'Geometron' , with geo- meaning earth and -metron meaning measurement. Geometry is the mathematical branch dealing with the theories of size, shape, the relative positions of figures and also the properties of space. It is concerned with lengths, areas and volumes of everything around us. Geometry came about in the 6th Century BCE in the west.  I see many inter-developments between the various topics in Mathematics, for one is dependent or cannot exist without the other. Such an example are trigonometry and geometry. Trigonometry branched out from geometry, it is the study of the relationship of lengths and angles in triangles, specifically and it became known in 3rd Century BCE. It was used to apply to astronomical studies. Pythagora's Theorem is also branched off from Trigonometry.The mathematical science was practiced first among the Ancient Eygptians and Far East, and both have made significant contributions to this science. These Ancient Greats if put in a room together they could communicate via mathematics and would arrive at similar accurate and precise mathematical conclusions. This shows that Mathematics can also be interconnected to Languages for it is its own language.The Chinese formed the abacus, the calculator's predecessor. This proves that Mathematics is an international area of knowledge. To this day it is widely practiced and its equations and formula's can be understood by all (who have the capacity/ knowledge to) regardless of speaking many different languages around the world. If Mathematics were a tree it would have interconnected or tangled branches; tightly interwoven. The tree would go on for infinity for math is in everything around us; it is infinite. 

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