Ask Dr. Math

High School Archive

Browse High School History/Biography

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About Basic Geometry [10/14/1998]

Who developed basic geometry? What is it used for? Who uses it?

African-American Mathematicians [11/07/1996]

I am trying to compile a list of African American mathematicians.

Ancient Numeration Systems, Place Value [6/4/1996]

I am trying to get some information on ancient number systems, especially African and Roman systems.

Constructing Polygons [06/03/1998]

How do you construct a regular pentagon and a regular decagon? Can you construct a regular n-gon?

Fermat's Last Theorem: Explanation [11/02/1997]

Please give me some information on Fermat's Last Theorem.

First Day of the 21st Century [12/01/1999]

What is the true date of the first day of the 21st century? From what day are we counting 2000 years?

The Four-Color Map problem [11/11/1997]

What is the four-color map problem?

History of Numbers [09/04/1997]

My Algebra 2 teacher asked us to do a report on the history of numbers.

Influential Mathematicians in History [9/12/1996]

Is there any one really cool famous individual with a major influence on math who you could mention?

Information About Topology [11/12/1996]

Where can I learn more about topology?

Lattice Multiplication [8/30/1996]

Can you please explain the lattice method of multiplication?

Logarithms: History and Use [7/12/1996]

How do I explain why logarithms work to non-math-oriented people? Also, what is the history of the development of the concept of logarithm? Why is it called a "logarithm"?

Math and Musical Scales [02/10/1997]

What is the space between half steps? Where did they come up with octaves and why did they choose eighth notes?

Modular Forms and Elliptic Curves: Taniyama-Shimura [10/30/1997]

I watched a PBS show on Fermat's last theorem and they kept talking about modular forms and elliptic curves and how they are related. What are they, and how so they relate to one another?

Perfect Numbers [12/07/1996]

What are the first 10 perfect numbers? Is there a formula for getting a perfect number?

Perfect Numbers [10/17/1996]

Is there any way, other than by trial and error, to figure out what the perfect numbers are?

Properties and Postulates [08/04/1999]

How do you discover or create a property? What is the difference between a property and a postulate? Do we have to prove all properties?

The Third Millennium [01/23/2000]

When does the Third Millennium begin? Are there any inherent predictions or unverifiable assumptions within math?

What is a slide rule? [07/27/1997]

What does a slide rule do and how does it work?

Why Simplify Square Roots? [05/17/1999]

We have been trained to simplify square roots, but we are now looking at the reasons why we should continue to teach the process.

Why There are 12 Tones in a Scale [12/28/2000]

Why are there 12 tones in an octave? Can you explain the significance or the equation r^n = 2^m? Also, what's so special about a fifth? Why should the scale be based on the fraction 3/2?

Year 0 [10/19/1998]

How many years are there between 10 B.C. and 10 A.D.?

Abraham Kaestner and Euclid's Fifth (Parallel) Postulate [12/02/1996]

Where can I find information on Abraham Kaestner?

Abraham Lincoln and the Rule of Three [04/13/2003]

In the biography of Abraham Lincoln he states that he learned to 'read, write, and cipher to the rule of 3.' Can you please explain the phrase 'cipher to the rule of 3'?

Adding and Subtracting Roman Numerals [10/26/1999]

How can I add and subtract Roman Numerals without converting them to regular numbers? What did the Romans do to solve this kind of problem?

African Mathematics [10/24/2001]

Some references for studying the history of mathematics on the African continent.

Alabama legislature and pi [04/15/1998]

Did Alabama really vote that pi should have its biblical value of 3?

American vs. European Billion [07/30/2000]

Why are there differences between the American and the European systems for naming large numbers?

Amicable Numbers [11/12/1998]

What are amicable numbers? Can you give me examples? What's their history?

Archimedes and the Area of a Circle [09/17/1997]

How do you find the area of a circle without pi?

Archimedes' Method of Estimating Pi [5/29/1996]

What was Archimedes' method for estimating pi using inscribed and circumscribed polygons about a circle?

Babylonian Numbers [01/10/1997]

I know ancient Babylonian math is based on 60 but I need to find symbols used and names of the numbers.

Babylonian Reciprocals (Base 60) [04/08/1999]

What is the reciprocal of the fraction 451/15 ?

Bach and Mathematics [04/16/1997]

What are some of the connections between music and math?

Bachet's Theorem [10/08/1998]

My maths teacher said that a mathematician discovered that you can make any number by adding together a combination of no more than 4 square numbers.

Base of Roman Numerals [04/07/2001]

What is the base of the Roman numeral system, base 10 or base 5?

The Base of Roman Numerals [02/19/2004]

What base does the Roman Numeral system use?

Boethius and Harmonics [09/28/1997]

Can you explain Boethius and his theory of harmonics of music?

Calculating the Date of Easter [04/04/2001]

How is the date Easter falls on calculated?

Calculating Using Dates AD and BC [11/25/2003]

How do you calculate how many years there are between dates where one is given in years B.C. and the other is in years A.D.? For example, how many years were there from 15 B.C. to 63 A.D.?

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