What is mathematics? - Session 1

Have you ever wondered how architects design towering skyscrapers or how engineers create intricate bridges? These everyday marvels are made possible by mathematics. From the patterns in nature, to the rhythms of music, mathematics is woven into the fabric of our daily lives. But what exactly is mathematics?.

Mathematics is the science that deals with the logic of shape, quantity, relationships and arrangement. It is a universal language used to describe and understand the world around us, from the smallest particles to the largest galaxies. Why is mathematics important? Mathematics is used in various fields, including science, engineering and economics. It is also used in everyday life activities such as budgeting, cooking and traveling. It helps develop critical thinking and problem solving skills, which are essential in making good decisions.

To truly appreciate mathematics, it is essential to understand its rich history and the remarkable stories behind its development. Mathematics is not simply a collection of numbers and formulas. It is a human endeavor that has evolved over thousands of years, shaped by diverse cultures and remarkable minds. A long time ago, there were clever people called the Babylonians. They figured out a special way of counting that was different from how we count today. Instead of counting in tens, they liked to use sixty as their grouping.

Imagine you're counting with your fingers. Normally, when you count to ten, you start over again at one, right? Well, the Babylonians had a different way of counting. Instead of stopping at ten, they kept going until they reached sixty.

So, they would count from one, two, three and all the way up to fifty nine. But instead of saying sixty next, they would move to the next place, like when we do from nine to ten. It is like counting to sixty on one hand, and then starting over again on the other hand. That is why they used sixty as their special number. This method of counting numbers is called sexagesimal numeral system.

Since the Babylonians used sixty as their special number, it influenced how we measure time and angles today. There are sixty seconds in a clock-minute because the Babylonians liked to count in sixties. There are sixty minutes in an hour for the same reason. And since three sixty is sixty times six, we use three sixty degrees to measure angles in a circle.

Algorithms are like step by step instructions. They are similar to a recipe for cooking or constructing something. The Babylonians were clever and made some of the first algorithms to solve math problems. So, instead of simply trying to figure out math in their heads, they wrote-down these step by step instructions to make things easier and more organized.

Imagine having a special book made of clay where you could write-down all these step by step instructions. That is what the Babylonians did. On these clay tablets, they wrote-down things like how to multiply numbers, divide them and ways to find square roots. These tablets were like their own personal math helpers, similar to our calculators or math textbooks today.

The ancient Egyptians built huge pyramids that amaze us today. But how did they do it? Well, they used mathematics. They had to measure really carefully to make sure the pyramids were the correct size and shape. This involved using geometry, which is a type of mathematics about shapes and their properties. For example, they needed to know how to calculate the angles of the sides of the pyramid and the lengths of its edges. This helped them make sure the pyramid would not fall-down.

The Egyptians were also smart about time. They noticed patterns in the sky, like how the stars moved and how the seasons changed. They used this knowledge to create a calendar, which is like a schedule for the year. By keeping track of the stars and the seasons, they could figure out when to plant crops and when to celebrate important events like festivals and holidays.

Long time ago in Ancient Greece, there lived some super smart folks who loved playing with numbers and shapes. One of them was Pythagoras. He was famous for figuring out a really handy math rule called the Pythagorean theorem. It is like a magic spell for triangles that helps us find out how long their sides are.

Then there was Euclid, who was like the math guru of his time. He wrote a book called The Elements. This book was all about shapes and angles. It was so good that to date, people use it to learn about geometry.

Let us not forget Archimedes. He was a bit of a genius inventor. Did you ever wondered why some things stay afloat in water and others do not? Well, Archimedes figured it out. He also came pretty-close to finding out the exact value of pi, which is a super important number in math.

Archimedes was really smart. One day, while he was taking a bath, he noticed that the water level rose-up as he got in. This got him thinking about why some things stay afloat and others sink. He figured out that when something is in water, it pushes some of the water out of the way. That pushing creates an upward force called buoyancy, which helps things float.

He also tried to figure out how big a circle is. You know, like if you measure around the edge of a round-shaped cookie? That is called the circumference. Archimedes wanted to know how big it was compared to the width of the cookie. He got pretty-close to figuring it out using a clever trick with shapes, although he didn't get the exact answer.