HISTORY MATHEMATICS ABOUT CONCEPT, PROBLEM,AND SOLUTION MATHEMATICS IN THE PAST WHICH STILL USING/NOT

By: Winda Oktavia PMNR’08

Last week ago, my lecture, Mr. Marsigit give task to search about concept, problematic or mathematics solutions in old period which still use or not in this period. In there I will explain what I get when I doing the task.

As we know, concept and problematic in mathematics was happen very long time. Many concepts were found in old period, even though before century. History of mathematics was start when people must note number of count which bigger than one. From this problem and many others problem born mathematicians who try to solve this problem with their concept. And before century mathematics was develop very good and many concept mathematics was born. Many concept still using now, but together with the time walking, many other concept and problematic in old period not using again, and there is many other concept or problematic and mathematics solutions which founding modern period and never found in old period.

1. Concept and mathematics solutions from the past and still us now, are :

a. Thales Theorem
Thales bring proposition which known with Thales Theorem, there are:
• Circle divide by two lines which pass to the centre of the circle call diameter.
• The measure of angle in equilateral triangle’s base is congruent.
No note again about Thales credit in memorizing, but concept of diameter in Thales Theorem Still use now.

b. Pythagoras Formula
Pythagoras theorem only used in right angled triangle. Pythagoras explains that: c2 = a2 + b2. If there is three numbers a, b, and c which complete with c2 = a2 + b2 concept, so those three numbers called Triple Pythagoras.
And this formula still use now, we usually use it when we solving problem in right angled triangle.

c. Zero Number Concept
The first time zero numbers concept found are in the old period, exactly in India. People who found zero number is Aryabhata. He was entered zero in calculation system and just not the empty place. Then zero number still using in this period, we still use this concept in integers.

d. Irrational Numbers
In the Pythagoras period appear a problem which can’t finished by rational number. If a flat line with point 0 and 1, point 0 lie in the left 1 and the negative lie in the right 1. Then q fraction can show with point which divided each unity in the same part of q. The problem is there are points at the line which can’t represent by rational number. So, they must create a new number to show this number, from this problem the irrational number was born. For a several time square root of 2 is the only one of irrational number. Now in every matter in mathematics we still found irrational numbers.
e. L’Hospital Rule
This is a mathematics solution that is the rule of descent to solve limit function which usually we know as “L’hospital Rule” finding and prove by De L’Hospital. That concept still using now.

2. Concept and problematic in mathematics in the past and not use again now, are :

a. Phi (π) in Old Egypt Period
By what I was learning, there is solving problem in Old Egypt Period that didn’t use now. This is about solving to find circle area. Papyrus Rind said that π = 3, 16. But now we use π = 3, 14 to find the circle area.

b. Zeno Paradox
Zeno is the mathematician who said about unlimited number. In fact, Zeno was claim one contradiction in mathematics minded which must waiting for two thousand years to finish. Zeno said six paradoxes. This is problematic that Greek filose can’t solve with their logic, but no one can find the wrong in Zeno Paradoxes. From his six paradoxes, the most popular is run competition between Achilles and turtle.

3. Whom I found in mathematic concept mathematic problem or finished mathematic in this can with mathematic in old period.

That in these kinds about task mathematic no talks with mathematic with used closed problems, open - ended problem, and open problems. So in this period, modern period, many problematic in mathematics which didn’t found in old period. For example, in the start or twenty century, in 1930, when Kurt Godel published his popular theorem, which provocation of crisis, even though asking the background method of mathematics and classic mathematics. And there is many other problematic in mathematics which turn up in this modern period.

Reference :
http://www.marxist.com/reason-in-revollt-bab-16-matematika.htm
 http://id.wikipedia.org
Para mahasiswa. 2008. Sejaran Matematika Berdasarkan Tokoh dan Karyanya. Yogyakarta: UNY
http://mathematicse.wordpress.com/2007/12/25/open-ended-problems-dalam-matematika/