Active Vocabulary.
2. Answer the following questions: 1. Where did algebra probably originate? 2. What is Babylonia credited with? 3. What equations were the Babylonians able to solve? 4. When did algebra appear in Egypt? 5. What did Egyptian algebra lack? 6. What explains the lack of sophistication in Egyptian algebra? 7. What was the algebra of the early Greeks? 8. What were the difficulties the Greeks experienced? 9. What style did the Greek mathematicians use? 10. What caused the Greeks to give their algebra geometrical formulation? 11. Why is it known little about Hindu maths before the fourth and fifth century A.D.? 12. What equations did the Hindus solve? 13. What did the Hindus attempt to find? 14. What are the most outstanding achievements of the Hindus? 15. When did Greek and Arabic texts on maths become available in Europe? 3. Reconstruct the text “The early Algebra” into a dialogue. The main rules governing a conversation in English: The person who asks questions in a conversation usually controls it. Personal questions should be expressed tactfully. Add new phrases to the previous ones: Let’s look at the whole problem/plan, etc. from a realistic point of view. Don’t forget about the other side of this problem. I think I’ve missed some details concerning … Could you be a little more precise/specific? I’d like to hear more about … I can’t give you a definite answer yet. 4. Agree with the statements given below and develop the idea further. Use the introductory phrases: That’s right. This is the case. I hold a similar view. There is no point in denying that … I see no point at all to disagree that …
1. It was the Arabs who preserved the Greek and Hindu scientific writings through the Dark Ages of Europe. 2. Our main interest during the Arabic period centres on Al-Khowaresmi and Omar Khayyám. 5. Annotate the text in English. Use the phrases: I.
II.
III.
6. Discuss the statements given below. Use the following phrases: I will start by saying that… My own viewpoint is that… It’s worth considering (appreciating)… I should like to make it clear that… One cannot say that… One must admit that…
1. In both the Babylonian and the Egyptian civilizations computations were handled by a small and exclusive group of experts, frequently the priests. Their special and carefully guarded skills and knowledge gave them influence and power. The Pythagoreans may simply have followed their example. Your viewpoint. 2. Stories about the innovators in algebra – such as Cardano’s exploration of imaginary numbers, Abel’s search for the general solution, Galois’ genius, Cayley’s invention of matrices by noticing coefficient patterns in equations – may well serve to excite the modern mind. Your viewpoint.
|
