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Math on North America

Date: 01/12/97 at 19:19:35
From: suzanne@mathforum.org (Suzanne Alejandre)
Subject: Math on North America

Dear Dr. Mike,

Currently I am working on a section of pages that starts at

http://mathforum.org/alejandre/mathfair/index.html

Sarah Seastone, my editor, ran across your response to Charlie Napier 

http://mathforum.org/dr.math/problems/napier1.3.97.html

which we felt fit so well with the unit that I am working on! Your
ideas are excellent. You can see how I linked to it by going to

http://mathforum.org/alejandre/mathfair/more.html

My question (or perhaps request) is if there is any possibility that
you could respond similarly to Math on North America  [Native American].



I would love to hear your ideas.



Sincerely,

Suzanne Alejandre

Date: 01/17/97 at 01:25:49
From: Doctor Mike
Subject: Re: Math on North America

Hello Suzanne,
  
My ideas of what is interesting may be a bit far out, but here goes.

1. As far as I can tell the native North American cultures didn't do 
much math. I remember some references to shell-money and 'wampum', 
but most exchange was by trading. Some tribes measured courage in 
battle by 'counting coup' -- getting close enough to touch an enemy 
with a coup stick -- but I don't know how much counting actually 
happened. - Some students might be interested to contact native 
language speakers in their local area to learn the words for counting. 
I don't know if it goes much beyond "1, 2, many" or whether any kind 
of base system is involved.

2. There might be some synergism in working with local Scouting 
groups. I know some councils of the Boy Scouts of America promote 
respect for and learning about American Indian cultures and nature 
conservation. It would be neat for some student to get a Merit Badge 
for math homework!

3. Of course, if you extend "America" coverage to Central America, 
then you open things up to include the Mayas, who had "zero" and 
significant math for astronomy and calendars.

4. When the USA was first formed it had a prime number of states (13). 
Go through the history of new statehood to find other times when we 
had a prime number of states, ... or a perfect square or cube number 
of states. 

5. Tobacco is an important product of the south, and it was smoked
in some ceremonies by native americans. I personally know of someone 
who was able to stop smoking on July 7, 1977. This date is 
represented 7/7/77 which is significant as a date p/p/pp where p is
an odd prime number. When is the next time such a date will happen? 
Can you think of another 'special' date someone might choose in the 
next 10 years for stopping? 

6. Graph the number of immigrants to North America vs. year 
from 1492 to present. 

  
I can't think of any others now, but this is a start.  Good luck.

-Doctor Mike,  The Math Forum
  Check out our web site!  http://mathforum.org/dr.math/