Cut the Knot
Cut the Knot!: Fundamental Theorem of Algebra
Contains detailed historical information regarding the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra and the various proofs that were developed. Click on the links at the bottom of the page to access all the information.
Math Is Fun
Math Is Fun: The Evolution of Numbers
Discusses what numbers are and how our understanding of them has evolved over thousands of years, from simple counting to negative numbers and irrational numbers, for example. Includes a set of practice questions where students identify...
University of St. Andrews (UK)
University of St. Andrews: Luca Valerio, Italian Mathematician
This University of St. Andrews page offers a good biography on Luca Valerio, an Italian mathematician and teacher of rhetoric.
Other
Divulga Mat: Biografias De Matematicos Espanoles Ilustre
In this math resource from the Real Sociedad Matematica Espanola, you can read the biographies of famous Spanish mathematicians.
Texas A&M University
Greek Numbers and Arithmetic
A brief description of the earliest Greek numberical notation, the Attic system, followed by a more detailed description of the alphabetical system that replaced it.
University of St. Andrews (UK)
University of St. Andrews: Aryabhata the Elder
Biographical information on Aryabhata (476-550 CE), a renowned Indian mathematician who wrote about astronomy, algebra, plane trigonometry, and much more. Includes links to related resources.
Tech Target
What Is: Irrational Number
A counterpart problem in measurement would be to find the length of the diagonal of a square whose side is one unit long; there is no subdivision of the unit length that will divide evenly into the length of the diagonal. It thus became...
PBS
Pbs: Base 60: Babylonian Decimals
Explore a brief history of mathematics in Mesopotamia through the Babylonian Base 60 number system. This video focuses on how a base 60 system does not use fractions or repeating decimals, some of the advantages of a base 60 system, and...
University of Houston
University of Houston: Lesson Plan: Famous Mathematicians
This lesson plan is aimed at 7th and 8th grade students and involves researching famous mathematicians and the import of their contributions.
Other
Jeff Miller: Earliest Uses of Symbols for Variables
This personal site explains how variables began and who were the first to use them.
Discovery Education
Discovery Education: Lesson Plans Library K 5
This resource presents a lesson plan library which holds hundreds of lesson plans organized by grade level and subject area. Often rooted with an Internet research piece, each lesson plan contains specific objectives, procedures,...
Other
Great Scott!: Hieroglyphs Numbers
Use this site to learn about the ancient Egyptian numbering system. Use the "converter" to the right to translate modern-day numbers to Egyptian hieroglyphs, or scroll to the bottom of the page to continue the journey and learn about...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: The Magic of Vedic Math
There is more than one way to reach a correct answer in mathematics. Vedic math, an ancient Indian method, sidesteps traditional computations in a manner that provides a shortcut, while being fun to use and to learn. Gaurav Tekriwal...
University of Virginia
University of Virginia: Counting in Babylon
A discussion of the number system used by the ancient Babylonians. Examples are provided for various mathematical operations based on the number 60 (our number system is based on the number ten).
University of St. Andrews (UK)
University of St. Andrews: Hypatia of Alexandria
The University of St Andrews gives a vivid biography of Hypatia and her influence in ancient mathematics, neoplatonic philosophy, and Alexandrian politics. Includes links to related biographies and topics.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Is Math Discovered or Invented?
Would mathematics exist if people didn't? Did we create mathematical concepts to help us understand the world around us, or is math the native language of the universe itself? Jeff Dekofsky traces some famous arguments in this ancient...