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Teaching the History of
Mathematics Using Art andArchitecture
Maria Zack
Point Loma Nazarene University
June 2, 2005
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The Course: Special Topics in
Mathematics Annual class that rotates among the
faculty
Content based on faculty researchinterest
Organized as a seminar with the
students making some presentations
Meets for two hours every week
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Student Involvement
Reading of selected texts
Projects Presentations
Hands-on experiences
Field trips
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Motivation for the Course
Research in the connections between
the mathematics and churcharchitecture ofChristopher Wren
Interested in integration
Discussions about General Education atPLNU
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Mathematics Involved in the
Course
Not highly technical
Practical knowledge how things work Connections to other disciplines
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Symmetry
Used classical texts
Vetruvius
Alberti
Palladio
Specific examples of both the real andthe ideal
Used ancient worship spaces Connection to careful reading of texts for
meaning and definitions plus geometry
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Ideal vs. Real
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Construction Techniques
The physics behind domes and arches
The physics behind cantilevers The role of flying buttresses
Student presentations
Connection to Physics (GE requirementfor our majors)
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The Meaning in Church
Architecture The role of narthex, nave, aisle and altar
in conveying theological meaning
(G
eometry of Love) Field trips to Roman Catholic and Greek
Orthodox churches
Creeds and Stations of the Cross
Connection to Christian Tradition (GE)
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The Work of Christopher Wren
Parish churches as examples of
parameterized problems
Student solutions to problems St. Pauls Cathedral
Requirements of a church
Engineering behind the dome
Connection to thought processes in
mathematics courses
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Problem
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Solution
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St. Stephen Walbrook
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Vanishing Point in Art
An architectural example
Alberti and others on technique The Day the Universe Changed
Connection to World Civilization (GE)
and the careful reading of texts neededfor mathematics
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Architectural Example
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The Development of
Perspective
Crash course in tracing the development
of realistic perspective in painting Use of specific well know art works and
a few interesting distortions
Connection to Art History (GE)
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The Flagellation of Christ
(1459) Piero della Francesca
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Perspective Using Tiling
In class use ofAlbertis technique to
draw a paved floor Use alternative techniques as well
Connection to Art History (GE) as well
as reading complex texts
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Lessons Learned
Cross discipline integration is hard but itis good for students to see us stretch
Students like the opportunity to connectGE with their major
Students are excited to seemathematics crop up in unfamiliar
places Next time: let the students struggle for a
longer period with the original texts
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