Course

History of Mathematics (MAT240)

The subject is an introduction to the development of mathematical ideas and methods throughout human history.


Dette er emnebeskrivelsen for studieåret 2025-2026

See course description and exam/assesment information for this semester (2024-2025)

Semesters

Fakta

Emnekode

MAT240

Vekting (stp)

10

Semester undervisningsstart

Spring

Undervisningsspråk

Norwegian

Antall semestre

1

Vurderingssemester

Spring

Timeplan

Vis timeplan

Litteratur

Søk etter pensumlitteratur i Leganto

Content

The historical development of central notions within number theory, algebra, geometry and analysis; notation, computational techniques and axiomatic systems.

A wide selection historical sources and persons, such as early number notation and calculations from Mesopotamia and Egypt; Greek geometry and number theory as described in Euclid's Elements, Ptolemeios' Almagest, Diophantus Arithmetica etc.; Indian (Brahmagupta), Chinese ("Nine chapters") and Arabic (al-Khwarizmi) sources. Furthermore, European developments from the Renaissance and beyond with central works and persons such as Cardano (Ars Magna), Descartes (La Géometrie), Fermat, Newton and Leibniz. Selected topics from more recent history may also be included, such as non-Euclidean geometries or Cantor's cardinal numbers and countability.

Learning outcome

Upon completion of the course the candidate is able to

  • explain the development of mathematical notions within number theory, geometry and analysis in a historical context,
  • interpret and discuss the content of a mathematical source text, and
  • through computational examples demonstrate techniques from a selection of mathematical sources and compare such techniques from various epochs.

Forkunnskapskrav

Ingen

Anbefalte forkunnskaper

Mathematical Methods 1 (MAT100), Discrete Mathematics (MAT120)

Exam

Form of assessment Weight Duration Marks Aid Exam system Withdrawal deadline Exam date
Written exam 1/1 4 Hours Letter grades No printed or written materials are allowed. Approved basic calculator allowed — — —


Written exam is with pen and paper

Fagperson(er)

Head of Department:

Bjørn Henrik Auestad

Course teacher:

Alexander Ulanovskii

Course coordinator:

Martin Gunnar Gulbrandsen

Course coordinator:

Alex Bentley Nielsen

Method of work

6 hours per week - lectures and problem solving.

Overlapping

Emne Reduksjon (SP)
History of Mathematics (MAT240_1) , The History of Mathematics (ÅMA240_1) 10

Åpent for

Battery and Energy Engineering - Bachelor in Engineering Biological Chemistry - Biotechnology - Bachelor's Degree Programme Civil Engineering - Bachelor in Engineering Computer Science - Bachelor in Engineering Computer Science - Bachelor in Engineering, Part-Time Electrical Engineering, Vocational Path - Bachelor's Degree Programme Electrical Engineering - Bachelor's Degree Programme, part-time Electrical Engineering - Bachelor's Degree Programme Energy and Petroleum Engineering - Bachelor in Engineering Geosciences and Energy Resources - Bachelor in Engineering Environmental Engineering - Bachelor in Engineering Mechanical Engineering - Bachelor in Engineering Mathematics and Physics - Bachelor's Degree Programme Medical technology - Bachelor in Engineering Medical Technology - Bachelor in Engineering - part time Petroleum Technology - Bachelor in Engineering
Admission to Single Courses at the Faculty of Science and Technology
Environmental Engineering - Master of Science Degree Programme Industrial Economics - Master of Science Degree Programme Industrial Economics - Master of Science Degree Programme, Five Year Industrial Automation and Signal Processing - Master's Degree Programme - 5 year Robot Technology and Signal Processing - Master's Degree Programme Advanced teacher education for level 8-13 in science Mathematics and Physics - Five Year Integrated Master's Degree Programme Marine and Subsea Technology, Master of Science Degree Programme, Five Years Offshore Technology - Master's Degree Programme Petroleum Engineering - Master of Science Degree Programme Petroleum Engineering - Master of Science Degree Programme, Five Years Master's Degree Programme in Societal Safety, Specialisation in Technical Social Safety Mathematics - One-Year Programme Science and Technology - one-year programme

Emneevaluering

There must be an early dialogue between the course supervisor, the student union representative and the students. The purpose is feedback from the students for changes and adjustments in the course for the current semester.In addition, a digital course evaluation must be carried out at least every three years. Its purpose is to gather the students experiences with the course.

Kontakt

Head of Department:

Bjørn Henrik Auestad

Course teacher:

Alexander Ulanovskii

Course coordinator:

Martin Gunnar Gulbrandsen

Course coordinator:

Alex Bentley Nielsen

Tilbys av

Faculty of Science and Technology

Department of Mathematics and Physics

The course description is retrieved from FS (Felles studentsystem). Version 1