Recommended Website:
MacTutor History of Math Archive
Age Range: Varied. (It looks as though the site was designed with educators and older students (age 11+) in mind, but some of the trivia will appeal to younger students. Non-readers will need assistance.)
This website archives the biographies of famous and not-so-famous mathematicians, including a “Mathematician of the Day” feature. It also maintains an index of the history of mathematics — and not only the history of various math strands like Numbers, Algebra, and Geometry, but the history of math in various cultures such as those in Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, China, India, America and more.
When you get to the site, simply use the search tool or the menu on the left of the screen to access:
- Biographies Index — Read the life stories of mathematicians through the ages. Search for names alphabetically, or search various time periods from 500 AD to the present. You will even find an index of “Female Mathematicians.”
- History Topics Index — Click on links to learn about mathematics in various cultures from Ancient Babylonia to the Mayan culture to present day America. You can also learn the history of various mathematical topics such as Algebra, Analysis, Numbers, Number Theory, Geometry, Topology, Mathematical Physics, Mathematical Astronomy, and more.
- Famous Curves Index — Learn the history of various math curves such as the Cartesian Oval, Devil’s Curve, Fermat’s Spiral, Involute of a Circle, Newton’s Parabolas, Serpentine, Talbot’s Curve, Watt’s Curve, the Witch of Agnesi, and more.
- Mathematicians of the Day — Find out which mathematicians were born (and who died) every day of the year. Bookmark the site, and check it daily. The entire year is archived here — look up your birthday and see what mathematician was born on the same day as you! This section includes quotations by mathematicians as well.
This site offers a unique way to engage students in the study of mathematics, and a way to further explore math for those who simply can’t get enough of it. :)
