Mathematical Theorems 
by
Wilper Morales

Introduction | The Task | Process and Resources  | Evaluations | Conclusion  |  State Standards 

Introduction

Theorems, postulates, and definitions are an important aspect of our course.  In many cases, you are unaware of how and when they became very important.  At times, it may seem impossible to solve examples without these famous theorems.  For example: find the length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle if the altitude is 3 feet and the base is 4 feet?  What theorem (s) can you use to solve this type of problem? Click here to view the proof!  

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The Task

Your job is to :

1. use three theorems (at least one that has been proven in class and one that has not) and relate them to three famous mathematicians.  
2.  explain how they have enabled us to solve mathematical problems by using their theorems.  
3.  be able to create a written report and a power point presentation to explain your findings.  
4.  create problems, which will use the selected theorems, for the entire class to solve.

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Process and Resources

1. First you will be assigned to a group of three students.
2. Decide which theorems you want to use.
3. Prove the theorems that need to be proven.
4. Identify each theorem with its corresponding mathematician. 
5. Visit http://www.maths.tcd.ie/pub/HistMath/People/RBallHist.html  for mathematicians' information.
6. Visit http://www.agnesscott.edu/lriddle/women/women.htm for more information.
7. Visit http://forum.swarthmore.edu/~isaac/mathhist.html to find mathematical problems.
8. Write a short biography for each mathematician.
9. Create an example, for each theorem, for the entire class to solve.
10. Create a power point presentation.

• Create a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 12 slides per presentation
• Each slide should have no more than three bullet points
• There should be no more than one mathematician per slide

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Evaluation

Your group will be evaluated on these criteria:

• selection of theorem
• written report
• oral presentation
• examples created 

Click to see RUBRIC

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Conclusion

Mathematicians have created many theorems and/or postulates to facilitate our understanding of mathematics.  Without some of these theorems and/or postulates, it will be very difficult for you to solve most mathematical problems.  You may be able to have a better recollection of the theorem, if you see how it can help us solve real-life problems. 

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State standards addressed:

STANDARD 7: Students will apply the knowledge and thinking skills of mathematics and technology to address real-life problems and make informed decisions.

STANDARD 3: Students will understand mathematics and become mathematically confident by communicating and reasoning mathematically, by applying mathematics in real-world settings, and by solving problems through the integrated study of number of systems, geometry, algebra, data analysis, probability and trigonometry.

Created by: Wilper Morales
Write to: moraleswill@aol.com
Dewitt Clinton High School
October 16, 2000

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