Math Department (Thesis/2009-10)

History of Proof

Under the direction of: Kim Plofker

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The topics in this set have a math-historical focus. History of mathematics is still a very under-studied field, and even a one-semester undergraduate thesis can potentially uncover new and interesting results that researchers and teachers in the field would be eager to know. Students interested in these topics are encouraged to consider planning and structuring their theses for publication, with the assistance of the instructor.

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Why do we have to go through Math 199 to learn how to make a mathematical argument? How did mathematicians come to the current consensus about what constitutes an adequate proof? How did this impact cultures that worked out sophisticated mathematics without formal proof? This thesis topic will survey important developments in the evolution of mathematical proof from antiquity to modern times; alternatively, students may choose to focus in detail on a particular era or culture that significantly influenced this evolution.

Math Department web pages Created: 11 May 2009 Last modified: 11 May 2009 00:00:00 Comments to: math@union.edu

Thesis Topics - K. Plofker Thesis Topics for 2009-2010 Thesis Topics - K. Lesh