Mathematics --- a Science and an Art
数学的科学性与艺术性研究
Students:XXX
Course: English for Academic Communication
Instructor: XXX Date: December, 2015
Course Paper Grade 2015
Introduction
From primary to senior high school,we have been studying mathematics. After entering university, I study at the school of Mathematics, which makes me contact with math closer. However, what is mathematics? From learning mathematics, what can we get? Enhancing our knowledge? Facilitating our life? Or,elevating our thought? Those questions will be explored in the following pages.
Part One What’s mathematics?
“Mathematics dominates the universe”, according to Pythagoras.Maybe, not everyone agrees with such a perfectly point, but it underlines the crucial role that mathematics plays in human society. We usually use math in our daily life and mathematics has a great effect in many areas, including politics, history, economics, even music, painting and sculpture.
What’s mathematics?Different people have different answers.In most
people,mathematics is a calculation,mathematics is doing math problem,mathematics is formula and proposition. Even it’s the beast with seven heads.[1]And the most famous theory about mathematics is “All is number.”, which was advanced by Pythagoras.
Part Two Mathematics is a Science and an Art
One source of confusion in discussion about mathematics is that it is both an art and a science.
Our discussion of it so far has generally treated it as a science that is the
key opening the door of science. Firstly, in the advance of science,using mathematical knowledge is the most direct and broadest way .Copernicus put forth his concept of a heliocentric solar system .for using mathematics method and mathematics theory .Secondly, mathematics is the major scientific terms.In the modern era,mathematics provide a convenient symbol system for all of science.Thirdly, mathematics thinking method provide a vital role in science study.For example, in the process of biological development,biological, beginning at simple classification , gradually develop into a deductive formulaic theory.At last,with the development of
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high and new technology, the modern technology usually perform as the digital technology. Setting up a mathematics model to solve problems is becoming more and more important ways.
Mathematics is also an art, for the activity of the mathematician bears a
resemblance to the activity of an artist. For example, in the twentieth century, Kolmogorov, a mathematics in the Soviet Union, studied the rhythm of poem by using mathematical method and created a special subject-- “art metrology”. Besides, there are thousands of years of the history of mathematics, such as character, as it is a carrier of culture. As we all know, the simple mathematical thought can contact with philosophical and esoteric knowledge. For example, the Chinese philosophy of yin-yang theory and erfenfa in mathematics have the same ideological dichotomy.In the long river of human history, many philosophers, like Plato ,are also famous as mathematicians.
The duality of mathematics as an art and a science creates a debate
over whether the learning of mathematics theory is useful? Some people believe that it’s not useful. Although we can solve some problems by using the math in real life, many practical problems and theoretical knowledge that we learn in the textbooks is not the same.Therefore, we do not need to learn in the classroom only summarized on the line in practice. But more people think that it’s useful. Learning theory knowledge is not out of practice, but higher than the practice. We do not want to learn how much knowledge, but to learn the way to solve problems, so, learning the theory of mathematics is necessary .
Conclusion
In my opinion, the theory of teaching mathematics is still very necessary. In fact, numerous experiments is the basis of theoretical knowledge , summed up in the previous method. There will be more complex problems in real life, but we can find some similar place and more efficient solve it. And only understanding the more theoretical knowledge , can we solve more esoteric practical problems.
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Bibliography
[1] Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary,OALD A S Hornby ,商务印书馆，2014 年6月
[2] http://www.baidu.com/
[3] Paulus Gerdes. On Culture and Mathematics Teacher Education [J]. Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education, 1998, [4] 数学简史 科学出版社，2010年1月
[5] 杨謇 涂荣豹 《略论数学教育的科学价值》 中国教育学刊 2002年8月 第四期
[6] 张玉峰 《数学与艺术的关系》 辽宁师范大学学报(自然科学版) 第30卷第1期 2007年3月
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