Mathematics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Mathematics - Essay Example Mathematics is major component of our culture and we need to learn more and more of it. Mathematics has been considered a necessity and essentiality what ever time period. Plato's Academy was marked with phrase "Let no one ignorant of Geometry enter here" Mathematics enjoys unshakable foundation and its basis is pure rationality. It promotes rational thinking and ideas and leaves nothing to chance. Even the chance or the probability is dealt in a very rational and logical manner. Logic grew into thriving field through algebraically minded mathematicians like George Boole, Ernst Schroder, Balzano, Ferge and Hilbert. The history of Mathematics goes as far back as 30000 BC when Paleolithic people in Central Europe and France recorded numbers on bones. Uses of early geometric designs were found to belong to 25000 BC. In 2000 BC Harappans adopted a uniform system of weight and measure. Quadratic equations were solved in 1950 BC. In 1850 BC Babylonians came to know about Pythagoras theorem. Almost at the same time multiplication tables were used by them. Sexagesimal number system was used to predict the position of Sun, moon and other planets in 500 BC. Hippocrates wrote "Elements" in 450 BC which is first compilation of elements of geometry. Euclid gave a systematic development of geometry in Stoicheion (The Elements). He also gave the laws of reflection in Catoptrics. In 250 BC Archimedes floated Archimedes Principles and gave an approximate value of . In 127 BC Hippocras discovered the precision of Equinox and calculated the length of year. In about 60 AD Heron of Alexandria wrote Metrica (Measur ement), which contained the formula for calculating Areas and Volumes. The Maya civilization in 250 AD used an almost place-value number system to base 20. In 499 AD Aryabhatta calculated to be 3.1416. In about 850 AD Thabit Ibn Qurra made important mathematical discoveries such as extension of the concept of number to real number, integral calculus, theorems in spherical geometry and non Euclidian geometry. Lot of other developments in mathematics need to be mentioned here but the only point is to show that mathematics developed through different generations and in different societies and cultures, which means that Mathematics was inevitable for one and all and was the nucleus for discoveries, inventions and development. Mathematics is one subject that transcends time and culture. The Pythagorean Theorem is true in any culture and every century, and is studied wherever mathematics is taught. In a world of rapid change, mathematics is one thing that endures. Its heritage is treasure we pass from generation to generation, a common store of wisdom whose usefulness takes a different manifestation in various culture and settings. Mathematics is rooted in timeless values and still is evolving. Newton gave mathematical laws of motion only three centuries ago. Lately new ways of measurements are being propounded which helps in advancement of science and commerce. Mathematics is used as an essential tool in almost all fields like

Comparative Analysis of Slavery by Stanley Elkins and Ordeal by Fire Research Paper

Comparative Analysis of Slavery by Stanley Elkins and Ordeal by Fire by James McPherson - Research Paper Example The difference in skin colour made a total difference in the perception of humanity that led to different treatment towards different people depending on their skin colour. Slave trade became a common phenomenon in America in the early 18th century with the onset of agricultural developments and the industrial revolution. However, slavery in America can be traced back to the 16th century when the first slaves entered America, twenty of them, all blacks from the African continent. These were brought into America as permanently indentured servants leading to more Negros and Caucasians moving into America as permanently indentured servants. Slavery, later on, grew in the southern agriculture where three types of crops were grown: tobacco, rice and indigo as a means of providing cheap untrained labor (McPherson, 1982). The farm owners who grew indigo felt devastated with the smell that was associated with it and did not want to touch it hence the need to have the African slaves to work o n the production as they concentrated on the sales and the keeping of the income that was accrued from the enterprise. Two American writers Stanley Elkins and James McPherson became so bold to address the evil that was being meted out on humanity by their fellow humans. In a bid to advocate for the abolition of the vice, these writers sternly criticized the trade of slaves in America and pointed out the need to set them free as they held to the fact that all men were created equal and that the slave trade was an embarrassment to the American continent. McPherson notes that at the onset of slavery in North America, slaves rarely worked on farms since most northerners only owned subsistence farms, slaves were therefore used as cooks, butlers, and house cleaners. These were more of light chores that did not humiliate the slaves. However, the dawn of agriculture-shifted things all together and the normal manual household chores were replaced with the forced farm labour. This left the sl aves with no choice other than to admit and be receptive to the prevailing shift in working conditions. Macpherson’s protest began at the point when forced labour was entitled to the slave immigrants. Arising from this, he launched a campaign for the slaves’ freedom. He argues, â€Å"The industrial revolution's new inventions made northern slave labour uneconomical. Free labour replaced slavery in most northern states except for the border state of Delaware. Free labour emphasized the right of each individual to "sell" his labour to the highest bidder† (McPherson, 1982). Thus, the sale of men in the American markets like goods moved McPherson to challenge the ethical implications of this. This according to him was a complete disregard of the human nature by her fellow humans, to sell a person as a good in the market was an abuse to human nature â€Å"when the southwest opened up new cotton lands, after depleting the upper south's soils, the slave population aga in increased. Upper south whites bred slaves for sale in the lower south† (McPherson, 1982)