George M Brenckle
Sep 5, 2018 · 1 min read

I don’t understand this. Maybe my problem is that I am thinking the core purpose of teaching math is how to do math, not who invented it. I have no problem with the latter an think that it is important to know where key mathematical concepts first came from.

But… none of that has anything to do with the “how” of math. TO me the important things to know about calculus or trigonometry are how to measure the area of a triangle or how to use integrals and derivatives. The equation “ a squared plus b squared equals c squared” is completely neutral. I agree that calling it the Pythagorean Theorum is not neutral. The important thing to teach in math education is how to use it and why it is useful, not who it is named after….

Maybe there is a difference between teaching math and teaching the history of math. I don’t care whether they call it the “Pythagorean Theorum” or the “Right Triangle Theorum”. It seems to be focusing onthe wrong thing.

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