The Birmingham Branch of the MA

Contacts

Forthcoming Events

Our most recent event took place on Saturday 26th January

in the School of Education, University of Birmingham

‘ A morning with Pythgoras (don’t mention the theorem!)’

Geoff Faux (Open University and ex-Mathematics Adviser for Cumbria)

Pythagoras is quoted as believing that the gods used the small whole numbers to design the universe. Where was his evidence?

During the session, we started with small whole numbers but also reminded ourselves that in 600 BCE there was no Arabic base ten symbol system. One consequence of that is that they generated numbers from length, area and ratio. From geometry there is then the question that perhaps the gods existed in a higher dimension. Are there patterns as we move up a dimension that we mortals should have noticed?

Much of the work was practical including work with scissors and A4 sheets of paper and was suitable for teachers of KS2-4.

The session was free for ATM/MA members (£2 otherwise).

Please email Dave Hewitt to find out about future events.