Article Series in Convergence

In addition to stand-alone articles, Convergence encourages submissions for series providing information, resources, and classroom-ready materials suitable for teaching mathematics through its history. Series that have appeared in Convergence are listed below:

Reprints from NCTM’s Mathematics Teacher

• Patricia R. Allaire and Robert E. Bradley, “Geometric Approaches to Quadratic Equations from Other Times and Places,” Mathematics Teacher, Vol. 94, No. 4 (April 2001), pp. 308–313, 319.
• David M. Bressoud, "Historical Reflections on Teaching Trigonometry," Mathematics Teacher, Vol. 104, No. 2 (September 2010), pp. 106–112, plus three supplementary sections, "Hipparchus," "Euclid," and "Ptolemy."
• Keith Devlin, "The Pascal-Fermat Correspondence: How Mathematics Is Really Done," Mathematics Teacher, Vol. 103, No. 8 (April 2010), pp. 578–582.
• Jennifer Horn, Amy Zamierowski and Rita Barger, “Correspondence from Mathematicians," Mathematics Teacher, Vol. 93, No. 8 (November 2000), pp. 688–691.
• Seán P. Madden, Jocelyne M. Comstock, and James P. Downing, “Poles, Parking Lots, & Mount Piton: Classroom Activities that Combine Astronomy, History, and Mathematics,” Mathematics Teacher, Vol. 100, No. 2 (September 2006), pp. 94–99.
• Peter N. Oliver, “Pierre Varignon and the Parallelogram Theorem,” Mathematics Teacher, Vol. 94, No. 4 (April 2001), pp. 316–319.
• Peter N. Oliver, “Consequences of the Varignon Parallelogram Theorem,” Mathematics Teacher, Vol. 94, No. 5 (May 2001), pp. 406–408.
• Rheta N. Rubenstein and Randy K. Schwartz, “Word Histories: Melding Mathematics and Meanings,” The Mathematics Teacher, Vol. 93, No. 8 (November 2000), pp. 664–669.
• Shai Simonson, “The Mathematics of Levi ben Gershon,” Mathematics Teacher, Vol. 93, No. 8 (November 2000), pp. 659–663.
• Frank Swetz, “The ‘Piling Up of Squares’ in Ancient China,” Mathematics Teacher, Vol. 73, No. 1 (January 1977), pp. 72–79.

Math Origins

Erik R. Tou explores how concepts, definitions, and theorems familiar to today's students of mathematics were developed over time.

• Math Origins: The Totient Function
• Math Origins: Orders of Growth
• Math Origins: Eigenvectors and Eigenvalues
• Math Origins: The Logical Ideas
• Math Origins: The Logical Symbols

Teaching and Learning the Trigonometric Functions through Their Origins

A series of curricular units by Daniel E. Otero based on primary source texts for use in teaching and learning trigonometry.

• Series Introduction
• Episode 1 - Babylonian Astronomy and Sexagesimal Numeration
• Episode 2 - Hipparchus’ Table of Chords

A Series of Mini-projects from TRansforming Instruction in Undergraduate Mathematics via Primary Historical Sources

A collection of student-ready projects for use in teaching standard topics from across the undergraduate curriculum.

• Series Introduction, by Janet Barnett, Kathy Clark, Dominic Klyve, Jerry Lodder, Daniel E. Otero, Nick Scoville, and Diana White
• The Derivatives of the Sine and Cosine Functions: A Mini-Primary Source Project for Calculus I, by Dominic Klyve
• Why be so Critical? Nineteenth Century Mathematics and the Origins of Analysis: A Mini-Primary Source Project for Introductory Analysis Students, by Janet Heine Barnett
• Connecting Connectedness: A Mini-Primary Source Project for Topology Students, by Nicholas A. Scoville
• Generating Pythagorean Triples: A Mini-Primary Source Project for Mathematics Majors, Elementary Teachers and Others, by Janet Heine Barnett
• Euler's Rediscovery of e: A Mini-Primary Source Project for Introductory Analysis Students, by Dave Ruch
• How to Calculate π: Machin's Inverse Tangents, A Mini-Primary Source Project for Calculus II Students, by Dominic Klyve
• Henri Lebesgue and the Development of the Integral Concept: A Mini-Primary Source Project for Undergraduate Analysis Students, by Janet Heine Barnett
• Seeing and Understanding Data: A Mini-Primary Source Project for Students of Statistics, by Charlotte Bolch and Beverly Woods
• The Origin of the Prime Number Theorem: A Primary Source Project for Number Theory Students, by Dominic Klyve
• The Cantor Set Before Cantor: A Mini-Primary Source Project for Analysis and Topology Students, by Nicholas A. Scoville
• Euler’s Calculation of the Sum of the Reciprocals of the Squares: A Mini-Primary Source Project for Calculus II Students, by Kenneth M Monks
• Completing the Square: From the Roots of Algebra, A Mini-Primary Source Project for Students of Algebra and Their Teachers, by Daniel E. Otero
• Regression to the Mean: A Mini-Primary Source Project for Statistics Students, by Dominic Klyve
• Investigations Into d'Alembert's Definition of Limit: A Mini-Primary Source Project for Students of Real Analysis and Calculus 2, by David Ruch
• Braess’ Paradox in City Planning: A Mini-Primary Source Project for Multivariable Calculus Students, by Kenneth M Monks
• Topology from Analysis: A Mini-Primary Source Project for Topology Students, by Nick Scoville
• Babylonian Numeration: A Mini-Primary Source Project for Pre-service Teachers and Other Students, by Dominic Klyve