 PREFACE
Welcome to the Place of Mathematics! Much has been written relating mathematics and its history. This helps us see mathematics as a living subject in a real world context. Can we look at mathematics from a geographical point of view? The idea originally came from a regular feature entitled ‘The Mathematical Tourist’ in the journal The Mathematics Intelligencer. In this, the reader is taken to some town, introduced to the sights, and then to the associated mathematics. We felt that the examples chosen (gravestones, plaques, and old houses!) would not appeal to school students. However, many structures around the world can be used to stimulate mathematical interest. So we have collected a number of these, and assembled them as a teacher resource. The material presented here is published in our book of the same name, available for $A25+pp from the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers. In fact the book contains rather more: an extensive bibliography, detailed exercises together with hints and answers, a ‘mathematics toolkit’ of useful results, a mathematical summary of each chapter, and an extensive index. We have found great enjoyment in researching this topic. Most of the places we have actually visited. We hope that you will be encouraged and helped in your understanding of mathematics. |
