Understanding Math PART 2

Mathematics is not about answers, it's about processes.

-DR. ROBERT H. LEWIS
PROFESSOR OF MATHEMATICS, FORDHAM UNIVERSITY

              There. I started my movie review with a quote again. It’s quite disappointing how many people have misconceptions about math. One misconception about mathematics is the perception that math is just about formulas and computations. It’s true that math wouldn’t be math without these computations. But math isn’t just about that. It is something more…

         In the second episode of the British television series entitled “The story of Maths”; further understanding of the history of math was showed. But while I was watching the video all I waited for was the part when Marcus du Sautoy would say “and that was how zero was invented”. The concept of zero was what interests me in this movie. I mean, how come they invented “nothing”? Where did they get the idea that nothing should be represented by something?

            In the movie, Marcus du Sautoy first visited China. The Chinese used bamboo rods in counting unlike the Babylonians where they used their hands. It was also shown how mathematics became a very big part of building the Imperial China. The amazing Great Wall of China was also featured and mathematics still has something to do with it. It was also discovered in China the use of a decimal number system.

            Another thing showed was the magic square. This is the one of the things I like about math is the patterns between numbers. I have known the magic square for a long time but I didn’t know that it was made by the Chinese. The Chinese also used geometric progression to come up with a system to help him sleep with all the women in his harem. And he was able to do that in 15 days!

            And the thing I have been waiting for—zero has come. It was in India where the symbol for the number zero was invented. It was one of the most important breakthroughs in the development of mathematics. The Indian mathematics’ concepts of infinity and negative numbers were examined as well as trigonometry.

              When I already knew where zero is originated, I wanted to stop watching the movie. But I think it’s calling me saying “wait there’s more!” Indeed, there really is something more.

          After that was Middle East. I learned that they invented algebra. Algebra is the branch of mathematics I like the most. This is why I chose the algebra group.      

            The last stop was Italy. I was amazed how Fibonacci numbers are seen in nature (I better find one!). The way of solving cubic and quartic equations was also discussed in the movie. It was depressing how Tartaglia didn’t get the recognition for his work.

            There really are numerous people with brilliant minds. Because of them, we are now able to count, solve and discover new technologies through math.

            The movie was how everything about math was invented. Mathematics was just an invention from the human mind. It was just nothing. Because of man’s desire to live more comfortably, mathematics emerged.

            It was inspiring how in 2 hours my views about math changed. Eventhough I would still have a hard time in solving problems in mathematics I won’t complain and blame all those who invented it. I’ll just think of its importance and try solving it again. Because at what have been said in the first part of this essay, math isn’t about the answer it’s about the process.