Evolution of my favorite subject

Let me tell you what I learnt about the evolution of my favorite subject, Mathematics.

1) Where did it start and why is it named Mathematics?

It all began in the 6th century BC in Mesopotamia, Egypt. The name Mathematics comes from the Ancient Greek "Mathema" meaning "that which is learned".

2) So what is Math about?

It is the science which deals with logic of the shape, quantity, arrangement and math is literally everything around us from day to night we use Math constantly without our consciousness. For a better understanding, here are a few examples :-

i) Math is used a lot in cooking, when a recipe calls out 2/3 cup of water, the cook has to calculate how much is half or double of 2/3 of a cup.

ii) Another example I learnt is when one goes to a store, he/she purchases some items and then when they go to the cash counter and they have to pay the correct sum of money.

As shown, Math is used in both the examples. Therefore, Math is seen from the simplest of calculations to complex derivations.

I also learnt about some great inventors who contributed a lot in the field of Mathematics.

[1] To start with our own greatest Indian father of mathematics! Sir Aryabhata (476 AD-550 AD, Pataliputra). He had invented value of pi in the year 2765 BC. Pi=314 being one of the constants having the largest decimal value. He also correctly believed that the planets and the moon shine by reflected sunlight and that the motion of the stars is due to Earth's rotation.

[2] This person is highly known by his famous Pythagorean theorem. Yes it’s the one and only Pythagoras of Samos. He was an Ancient Ionian Greek Philosopher. He was credited with many mathematical and scientific discoveries including the Pythagorean Theorem, Pythagorean tuning, the theory of Proportions, Sphericity of the Earth and the identity of the morning and evening stars as the planet Venus.

[3] Archimedes is a Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, astronomer and an inventor( 288 BC-212 BC). He had invented the screw pump in the year 250 BC and the compound pulleys in the year 287 BC. He also invented the defensive war machines to protect his native Syracuse from invasion.

While I have been researching, I have also learned the difference between traditional Math and modern Math.

Traditional math- It involved more heavy manipulations, algebra & calculus problems seemed quite a bit more difficult.

Modern math- It was more focused on mathematical principles rather than heavy manipulations, using a trick like symmetry, algebraic identity, etc.

How was math taught in different cultures?

1) In India- Vedic math

2) In China- Abacus

Here are some fun facts about Math!

* 0 (zero) is the only number which cannot be represented in Roman numerals.

* 2 and 5 are the only prime numbers that end with 2 and 5.

* An Icosagon is a shape with 20 sides!

* From 0 to 1000 the letter 'A' appears only in the word (one thousand)!

I enjoy learning Mathematics. Problem solving helps turning the gears in my head therefore this subject is pretty much like puzzles to solve. Math have so many formulas and derivations which interests me in learning more about this subject.

And finally let me end the topic by mentioning the No.1 mathematician, its CARL GAUSS!!(Isaac Newton is a hard act to follow, but if anyone can pull it off, it’s Carl Gauss! If Newton is considered as the greatest scientist Gauss could be called the greatest mathematician ever)!!!