May 09, 2025  
2011-2012 UMass Dartmouth Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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2011-2012 UMass Dartmouth Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

MTH 127 - Evolution of Mathematical Language

three credits
Eratosthenes measured the earth without encircling it more than two thousand years ago.  Elementary mathematics will be used to rediscover Eratosthenes and other human giants’ methods in measuring the distance from Earth to the moon, the sun or other heavenly stars, to find out the precise orbit of Mars, and to prove that the planets (including Earth) do accelerate towards the sun.  Philosophy and the foundation of principles in science will be discussed, such as quantitative verses, qualitative principles and the discovery that Nature is written in the language of mathematics.