Course Calendar and Homework Assignments for Math 128, Fall 2017

Date Section/Topic Reading Assignment Hmw to be collected
F Aug 25 Introduction to the course, general info and policies Read these 5 articles (in the given order) before Monday and write a short reflection paper, at most half a page (or less) for each for a total of about 2 pages. Print (2-sided ) and submit hard copy in class. Also save your paper in P drive.Article 1, Article 2, Article 3, Article 4 Article 5. They are also available in the P drive.

Quiz on Monday

First summary/reflections paper due Monday

Second one will be due Fri Sep 1 (on Steffens' book).
M Aug28 Discussion of the articles Read the preface & chapter 1 of Berggren's text, as well as preface to the first edition. Answer these reading questions by midnight Tue Aug 29 (by e-mail). Also read the supplementary materials on the 4 scholars: al-Khwarizmi, al-Biruni, Khayyam, al-Kashi. and the draft of the introduction of Al-Kashi's Miftah al-Hisab.. Don't forget the summary/reflection paper due Friday.
W Aug30 Berggren Chp1: Four Muslim scientists Steffen's book: Ibn al-Haytham: The First Scientist Summary/reflection paper on Steffen's book due Friday. Submit a hard copy in class and save it in your folder in P drive. P>Class>Math>Aydin>128>Students>YourFolder>Summary Papers. 2-3 pages. Among other things include: Ibn al-Haytam's motivation and approach to study science, his most important contributions to science, his approach to scientific inquiry, what happened in the centuries after he died, his legacy (particularly in Europe regarding the experimental method), and what you find to be interesting, surprising or impressive about him.
F Sep 1 Ibn al-Haytham Read sections 2.1 and 2.2 of Berggren and answer these questions (via e-mail) and watch these two videos part1, part 2 (about 37 min, also available on P-drive, under VideoLessons (Chapter 2)) First math hmw will be due Wed Sep 14.
WEEK 2
M Sep 4 Berggren 2.1, 2.2 Read sections 2.4 and 2.5 (upto page 56, Sexagesimal Division) and answer these questions. Also watch these videos part 1, part 2 (also available in P-drive) Hmw 1:Due Wed Sep 13: Problems 1,2,4,5,6, 8 at the end of Chapter 2 of Berggren. Write up your solutions neatly, and show your steps clearly. Do not submit scratch or sloppy work. For problem 2, change the statement of the problem as "Apply Kushyar's method of halving starting with the highest place. Does it work"? In number 8, interpret the numeral according to the Greek system. The symbol "E" is the digit for 5 (in the table on page 48). Giving 2 possible values is enough. Assume that the sexagesimal system is consistently used for both integer and fractional parts.
W Sep 6 Berggren 2.4,2.5 Read section 2.5 again and watch the videos. No formal reading questions this time  
F Sep 8 Berggren 2.5

Read section 2.6 and answer these questions. Then watch this video (also available in P-drive) and do the exercises at the end of the video.  Also, to get familiar with the community center we will visit next week (Sep 16), watch the video in the P drive titled "CTV-Noor Islamic Center.asf"

 Hmw 2: Due Wed Sep 20: Problems 9 (division part is bonus where the lowest order digits are in minutes. For multiplication, you can use any of the methods we discussed. Interpret each of these two sexagesimal numbers as degrees and minutes), 10 (note that these are decimal numbers, not sexagesimal), 13,14,15 at the end of Chapter 2. For 14, find the corresponding digits in base 60 for the example in the book (page 75, Fig. 29-e), then give a general rule for converting from base n to base m.Write up your solutions neatly, and show your steps clearly.
WEEK 3
M Sep11 Berggren 2.6 Read section 2.6 again answer and answer these questions (more questions on 2.6)  
W Sep13 Justification for the sqrt algorithm Read section 2.8 and answer these questions  
F Sep15 2.8: Applications of arithmetic to inheritance and zakat

Read sections 3.1,3.2, and 3.3 and answer these questions

Be at campus security at 9:45 on Sat Sep 16 for field trip to NICC.

  
WEEK 4
M Sep18 3.1-3.3 Read section 3.4 and answer these questions Watch this video (also in P drive)  
W Sep20 3.4 Read section 3.5 and 3.6, and answer these questions

Hmw 3: Due Wed Sep 27: Two problems to be stated in class on Friday, and problems 4 & 8 at the end of Chp 3. Make sure you explain your solutions and each one of your steps. Use words (full sentences) in addition to figures. Explain what follows from what and why.

For extra credit:  Problems 3 and 10 at the end of chapter 3
F Sep 22 3.5, 3.6 Read section 3.8 and answer these questions  
WEEK 5
M Sep 25 3.8 Study review/practice problems for the exam located at P>Class>Math>Aydin>128>Exam Reviews>ReviewExam1.pdf  
W Sep27

Visit from CIP. Review+Documentary

 Study for the exam, work on review problems. Start reading chapter 1 of Saliba.  
F Sep29 Review Study for the exam, work on review problems. Start reading chapter 1 of Saliba. Come to class early Monday morning.  
WEEK 6
M Oct 2 Exam 1 Read "The Prisoner of Al-Hakim", and Preface of Saliba Due Wed Oct 4: Reflection Paper on the novel "The Prisoner of Al-Hakim", 1-2 pages.
W Oct 4 "The Prisoner of Al-Hakim" and Saliba Preface Read Chp 1 of Saliba. Due Mon Oct 9: Read preface + Chapter 1 of Saliba. Summarize the important points of the reading. What is this book about? What points does the author make in the first chapter? Write about 2 pages. Turn in hard copy in class (printed 2-sided) AND save an electronic copy in P drive.
F Oct 6 October reading day    
WEEK 7
M Oct 9 Saliba Chp 1 Read Chp 2 of Saliba. Use the questions distributed in class as a guide.  
W Oct 11 Saliba Chp 2 Read Chp 3 of Saliba. Use the questions distributed in class as a guide.  
F Oct 13 Recap Chp 1& 2+ Chp 3 Read sections 4.1-4.3 of Berggren and answer these questions  
WEEK 8
M Oct 16 Berggren 4.1-4.3 Read section 4.4 of Berggren and answer these questions (There are a couple of typos in this section) Hmw 4: Due Wed Oct 25: Problems 1-4 at the end of Chp 4. For Problem 4, make sure you give a geometric argument (not an algebraic one) to prove the algebraic identity. There is a typo in the second part of problem 4. It should read: Draw your diagram to prove that   
W Oct 18 Berggren 4.4 Read section 4.5 of Berggren and answer these questions  
F Oct 20 Berggren 4.5

Read section 4.6 of Berggren, watch this video and answer these questions. Note: There are several typos in "The First Example" pages 115-7. Video is also available in the P drive.

 Hmw 5: Due Mon, Oct 30 (extended to Wed Nov 1): Problems 7,8,10 at the end of Chp 4. For Problem 8, find the quotient up to (and including) the term x^(-1) (pt) and write it in polynomial form. For Problem 10 interpret and express the answer in terms of money (dirhams and fulus). Do not use a calculator for any of these problems.
WEEK 9
M Oct 23 Berggren 4.6 Read section 4.9 of Berggren and answer these questions  
W Oct 25 Berggren 4.9 Read sections 4.9 (again) and 4.10. No formal reading questions Think about the final project. Gather resources. The first deadline is in two weeks
F Oct 27 Berggren 4.9, 4.10 Read section 5.1 and answer these questions  
WEEK 10
M Oct30 Berggren 5.1 Read sections 5.2 and 5.4 and answer questions Hmw 6: Due Fri Nov 10: Problems 1,4,5,12 at the end of Chp 5. In Pr 5, assume that at such small angles the chord length = arc length. Note that for problem 4 you will need more of the chord table than what is given in the book (on page 129). The hand-out distributed in class gives the rest of the chord table. It is available in P drive as pdf documents. In Pr 12, GH is perpendicular to AD. Obtain your answers as accurately as possible using the sixtieths column.
W Nov 1 Berggren 5.2, 5.4 Read section 5.5 and answer these questions  
F Nov 3 Berggren 5.5 Read section 5.6 and answer these questions Bring a calculator to class on Monday.  
WEEK 11
M Nov 6 Berggren 5.6 Finish al-Biruni's calculations. Study review problems in P drive. Exam 2 on Monday, Nov 13 Remember: two things are due Friday (Hmw and final project proposal)
W Nov 8 Finish 5.6/Review Study review problems  
F Nov 10 Review Study review problems. Try to come to class early Monday morning.  
WEEK 12
M Nov13 Exam II Read Chapters 4 and 5 of Saliba  
W Nov15 Saliba Lecture Write a short summary/reflection paper (0.5-1 page) on Salibe lecture. Read Chp 4 and 5 of Saliba. Use these questions and these as a guide to get the main points of the chapter.  
F Nov 17 Saliba Chp 4, Chp 5 Read Chp 6 of Saliba. There will be a reading quiz in class. Final project outline due Wed, Nov 29

THANKSGVING BREAK
M Nov27 Saliba Chp 6 Read Chp 7 of Saliba. Use the questions in this document as a guide. Also read 2 documents in P drive (under Reading Materials): i) "Ghazali" ii) Tahafut Pages Due Wed Nov 29 Outline of the final paper. Should be sent by email by 9 am
W Nov29 Finish Chp 6 +Chp 7 Read the selection of the material from "The 100", and papers about history of Calculus in the folder "Reading Materials > One Hundred" in the light of what you've learned in the course. Write a short commentary on this reading (at most 1 page), due Friday. Work on your presentation in class.
F Dec1 Discussion of the reading from The 100 Prepare for presentations in class.  
WEEK 14
M Dec4 Presentations

 

  
W Dec6 Presentations    
F Dec8 Special Session

Presentations at NICC in the evening. Leaving campus at 5:30 pm. Event starts at 8 pm at NICC.

 Due: Tue Dec 12, 1:30 pm (due with the final paper or earlier): Write an overall reflection for the course (2-3 pages). Among other things include most important, interesting, striking or surprising things you have learned in this course (including the final project) in some detail. Has it been a useful course for you? What do you think of the final project presentations at NICC. Do have any suggestions for the future offerings of the course? Do you see any connections between the two main textbooks that we used? Explain. Who is your favorite Islamic scholar? Would you recommend this course to your friends?