Running Head: MY DEFENSE PAPER

Brianna Plaster Formatted: Different first page header

Ms. Elizabeth Caruso

UWRT 1103 019

Due: 13 April 2017x

My Defense Paper Formatted: Left

My Defense Paper Formatted: Centered

Brianna Plaster

Ms. Elizabeth Caruso

UWRT 1103 019

Due: 13 April 2017

MY DEFENSE PAPER

I recentlyRecently I had the opportunity to watch a movie called Arrival by Denis Formatted: Indent: First line: 0.5"

Villeneuve. It was based on the idea of earth being visited by aliens; however, but unlike the

clich Armageddon theme these aliens awere peaceful and even wanted our help. They haved a

way of speaking and writing unlike any earth language and their understanding of numbers

iswere completely unheard of on our planet. This got me wondering exactly what numbers were

and where they came from.

Through my research, I attempted to explain where the notion of numbers first came

about and what reason was needed to develop them in the first placeThroughout my research my

goal was to explain the concept of numbers and the reason for needing them in the first place. I

also wanted to find outaimed to discover whether mathematics was defined as a scientific law or

merely a human principle designed to explain naturally occurring phenomenon. Along with

researching early numbers I began to look through history and specifically clued into certain

periods, such as the Egyptian and Greek ages. While perusing through information I learned that

the idea concept of a number first came about when we as homo sapiens began to recognize that

there was a defining difference between a single entity and a group. From there we began to

count, first using our hands and feet and then later stones. Once we could count into higher

digits we began developing base systems such as 2, 10, and 60. Base 2 is a system most people

recognize since it is used in the functioning and programming of the very technology we use

every day, such as computers, TVs, and even cellphones. Base 10 is the modern system of

numbers that all scientist, mathematicians, and other STEM practices use daily. The way we tell

time is by using Base 60 and the earliest known system is base 5 since we recognized we had

five fingers and toes. However, one major question I was trying to find the answer to was if
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there was any possibility of a system that can be universally used in all applications but my

investigation continuescontinues.

After we began developing systems we could develop complex math skills such as the

Egyptians and Greeks did with algebra, geometry, and basic math operationsOnce these base

systems were fully developed it gave the Egyptians and the Greeks the opportunity to create

complex math skills such as with algebra, geometry, and basic math operations. From there I

further investigated whether mathematics was a principle or a man-made instrumenttool and

learned that it is a very hotly debated topic. The discussion is divided into two groups Platonists

and non-Platonists. Non-Platonists are by and large engineers who believe that mathematics is

merely a tool made by man to help understand the natural world. The Platonist category is

mostly comprised of, not surprisingly, mathematicians they rigidly defend the idea that math is a

natural principle invented by the universe. Physicists sit in the middle; however, most believe

that they are closeted non-Platonist. I was unable to find an answer to my question and ended up

feeling more conflicted about the idea of such a debate between professionals than anything elseI

was unable to find a concrete answer on which side was correct but walked away feeling rather

displeased with the conflict between the STEM .programs.

Pi was an interesting and unique concept developed first by Babylonians and then further

developed throughout history even into the modern day. I really tried to express this in my story

by developing him as a sort of radical character, someone who went against the status quo. I felt

that pi was a difficult concept that many children probably didnt fully understand so I decided to

focus on this for my product. I resolved to writing a fairy tale story on how pi came to be,

designing him to be a complex character with many different aspects of his personality, and

attempted to relate to late elementary and early middle school children. The intention of my
MY DEFENSE PAPER

project was to explain in laymans terms a very heavy topic that many college students are not

even sure of and make it fun and exciting at the same time. Though the story would be very

focused compared to my very broad topic overall, I believed it to be a perfect way to demonstrate

the way in which mathematicians formulate the very principles so many majors and careers focus

on to this very day. I would also attempt to explain other mathematical concepts, such as

rational numbers, irrational numbers, and shapes, through various characters throughout the

story.

To accurately write this story I first needed to do a little research. I had to understand not

only where pi came from but also exactly what rational and irrational numbers were and how

best to explain them to children. I began by considering where pi came from and how it was

discovered. I consulted several webpages and articles before finding one website about the

history of the discovery very thoroughly explained by a mathematician by the name of David

Wilson. I learned that the investigation of pi is still ongoing even today and thatHe explained

that the investigation for the exact value of pi was still going and Mathematicians from around

the world are attempting to find exact formulas, fractions, and more recently patterns that can be

used to define the never-ending string of numbers, most identified with 3.14that mathematicians

from around the world are still finding formulas and equations to explain the infinite value of pi.

The way Exploratorium expressed pis value was that, even if we calculated the number of Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman, 12 pt

seconds in those 4000 years and calculated pi to that number of places, we would still only be

approximating its actual value ("A Brief History of | Exploratorium", 2017). I conveyexpress Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman, 12 pt

the complexity of the years of experimentation and discovery through the is complicated process

in the conversation that occurs between Mr. Viete and Pi. How he explains to Pi the depth of his

history and about all the mathematicians that were so dedicated to his discovery. How even now,
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his value is still not completely known yet it is such a vital part of calculus. William L. Schaaf

once expressed pi as being, A symbol in mathematics That has evoked more mystery,

romanticism, misconception and human interest than any other symbol before" (Wilson, 2017).

From there I gathered that there is no clear understanding where the idea of pi first came about;

however, the first evidence of pi originates with the Babylonians and Egyptians more than 4000

years ago. Commented [BP1]: Refer to citations more clearly.

Explain dont skim over.
It is believed that they might have simply drawn a circle in the sand and used a piece of

rope to measure the circumference. By doing this they discovered that it was moderately three

times the size of the diameter, or the distance from one point to the other that cuts directly

through the center of the circle. Nonetheless, an Egyptian papyrus known as the Rhind Papyrus

gives another approximate timeline of 1650 B.C. when the scribe Ahmes wrote, Cut off 1/9 of a

diameter and construct a square upon the remainder; this has the same area as the circle"

(Wilson, 2017). In other words, if you multiplied (8/9) by four you got 3.16049 which is fairly

accurateaccurate to the modern estimation of pi. Due to the Chinese and the old testament in the

Bible, there was a brief period in which pi was believed to equal exactly three. This changed

when the Greeks took two revolutionary steps in the search for the exact value of pi. Antiphon

and Bryson of Heraclea inscribed a polygon into a circle, found its area, and continued to double

the sides over and over, believing that if enough sides were added on then eventually the polygon

would become a circle. They did not estimate, however, the number of tiny triangles they would

have to find the areas of and therefore were only able to get a few decimal places. After this,

mathematicians continued to frantically search for an answer but the problem was eventually laid

to the side in the 19th century.

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Archimedes of Syracuse was the first mathematician to really make an impact in the

search. He took the theories of Antiphon and Bryson of Heraclea, but instead of focusing on the

area of the polygon, two hexagons to be exact, he set his sights on the perimeter of the shape and

used this to find the circumference of the circle. Through his tests, he gathered many delicate

calculations and the most accurate estimation of pi up to this point which was equivalent to 3

10/71. After this period, there wasnt much advance in the investigation until the 16th century

when there was finally a mathematical explosion. Francleois Viete, a French lawyer and

mathematician at the time as well as the kind ruler in my story, took Archimedes theory and

expanded on it even more. Instead of doubling the hexagon nine times as Archimedes had, he

doubled the shape sixteen times to finish with 393,216 sides and came to a final number of

3.1415926535. This experiment also proved that pi comes from the ratio of the circumference of

the circle to its diameter and that the circumference is always roughly three times the size of the

diameter.. Later research upon this experiment would discover that pi was an infinite number

with no exact value. I showed expressed this concept in my story when Pi and Diameter

combined to create an endless string of numbers that they used to squeeze the dragon until he

popped. Further research showed that pi was later defined as an irrational number due to the lack

of an exact value while numbers such as 1,2,3 remain as rational numbers with definite values.

For this reason, pi was categorized as an imperfect while diameter remained a perfect. This was

the different sanctions of perfects and imperfects in How Pi came to be. However, as we well

know, all these numbers are necessary for mathematics in some way shape and form. This was

the idea I was trying to show in the end with the celebration and everyone coming together to

rejoice over the victory. Commented [BP2]: Connect more with the Fairy Tale
Story and reference the source more thoroughly.
MY DEFENSE PAPER

AltogetherOverall, I hope the audience gains valuable information and a more in depth

understanding of the concept of numbers while reading my story. I hope to bring this more to

the forefront in public education to maybe influence the methods in which math is taught and

possibly modify change the curriculum slightly to have more mathematics history in early

education instead of just in late college years. I also hope that students will gain more

appreciation for the hard workchallenging work mathematicians have done over time to give us

the the mathematicsmathematics that we use in everyday life. There are so many mathematical

principles that it is hard to go over them all but I hope this little glimpse into the depth of the

universe that is math entices others to create their own inquiry and dive into the world of

information for themselves. Formatted: Font: (Default) +Body (Calibri), 11 pt, Font
color: Custom Color(RGB(49,132,155))
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Cites:

-Wilson, D. (2017). Math.rutgers.edu. Retrieved 13 April 2017, from Formatted: Font: 12 pt

https://www.math.rutgers.edu/~cherlin/History/Papers2000/wilson.html Formatted: Font: 12 pt

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-A Brief History of | Exploratorium. (2017). Exploratorium. Retrieved 29 April 2017,
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from https://www.exploratorium.edu/pi/history-of-pi
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