Seth Low Junior High School - Spectator Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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HISTORY OF MATHEMATICS The science of mathematics as we know it, was first developed clby the Greeks, although the Hindus, Babylon- ians, Egyptians, and Phoenicians had all made some progress in the under- standing and organization of the science. There is evidence that some of the most fundamental principles of algebra and the beginnings of a nota- tion have been discovered in Egypt as early as 3000 BC. It was nearly 2500 years later that geometry was formally organized, but during the next 300 years it was rapidly developed by Pythagoras, Plato, Euclid, Archimedes, and Apollonious. For many centuries after the Roman conquest of Greece, mathematical progress was confined al- most wholly to the Orient. During the time the Hindus were represented, Aryabhatta and Brahmagupta began the investigation of the theory of num- bers and made considerable progress in algebra, arithmetic, geometry, and trigonometry, hrst developing the pres- ent system of notation which is often wrongly attributed to the Arabs. IlThe sixteenth century witnessed the first important mathematical progress in Europe, the advance beginning in Italy. Shortly afterward there was also an awakening in France. Before the end of the sixteenth century through the labors 0f Descartes, Kepler, and Pascal the science of algebra and the elements of geometry had attained al- most perfection, the theory of numbers had been wonderfully developed and analytical geometry had appeared. About the same time Leibnitz and Newton simultaneously expounded the theory of calculation, thus vastly ex- tending the domain of mathematics and eventually revolutionizing all sciences. During modern times little addition has been made to the knowl- edge of the fundamental principles of mathematics, but they have been ap- plied in a multitude of new ways and forms? Mathematics is an important sub- ject on your daily program in Seth Low. If you apply yourself to it, per- haps later on you may be able to use your talents in further developing this Rhoda Kwait, RDI great science. vvvv MY MATH BOOK There it lay, my algebra book. I gazed upon it with an angry look. Should I burn it, tear it, or bury it with glee, Or rip out the pages unmercifully? I sat there pondering, clWhat should I do ?ll Suddenly, the Teacher called out, ilSay, You W SlowlyaI arose and knew not what to say. My face burned red and full of dismay. Page Forty-four clDo you know the answer ?I the teach- er said, Knowing nothing, I shook my head. But the answer was in my math book; If I could only get one little look. Ah, there it was on 103. I shouted the answer joyfully. My math book was my friend, indeed, Because it helped me in time of need. From then on, I never forsook My little friend, the math book. Frances Broder, RC THE SPECTATOR

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THE LIGHTER SIDE OF MATHEMATICS Numbers in History I was the symbol of life in Egypt. was the perfect number in the Pythagorean system. 9 was a respected number in China. 11 was held by St. Augustine to be an evil number. 13 has for a long time been consid- ered an unlucky number. To Tell a Personis Age Ask a person to multiply his age by three, add six to the product, then divide the last number by three and tell the result. Subtract two from the result and you have his age. Edwin Shapiro, RD2 Do You Know 1X 8+ 1:9 12 X 8+2:98 123 X 8+3:987 1234 X 8+4:9876 12345 X 8+5:98765 123456 X 8+6:987654 1234567 X 8+7:9876543 12345678 X 8+8:98765432 123456789 X 8+9:987654321 Arlyne Duberstein, RDQ Forty- Five How can 45 be subtracted from 45 and still leave 45 as a remainder? 9+8+7+6+5+4+3+2+1245 1+2+3+4+5+6+7 +8+9:45 8+6+4+1+9+7+5+3+2245i Magic Numbers Years ago some people were con- sidered extremely Clever because they could solve riddles mentally much more quickly than others could by writing them on paper. Today the methods are more widely known. One of the methods which they used was algebra. Besides this, various tricks were em- ployed. An interesting trick, done with the aid of multiplication, follows: Any two numbers can be multiplied quickly and mentally if the units of the THE SPECTATOR two numbers add to 10, and both tens are the same. The units are multiplied. One is added to either of the tens but not to both. They are now multiplied, the product is placed to the left of the other product, and you have the answer, i.e., 97x9329021. If when multiplied the units have 9 as their product a nought is put to its left, i.e., 91x99:9009- About 2,000 years ago the Chinese found the secret of the magic square, using numbers from one to nine. Many people are familiar with this trick, but fewer know it as it is performed with 2 5 squares. If all the sides add up to 65, and the center number is 13, and the numbers used are those from 1 through 2 5, can you work it out? Marvin Simring, RD4 TjT Try to ligure out the numbers I 1-20 in this way. Use no other digit than four. Donit use more fours or less. You will lind it real mathematical fun. Louise Landman, RD I Making Progress lcHow you gettin3 on with your irithmetie, Amos P2 ciWell I done learned to add up the oughts, but the figgers bodder me? Page Forty-five