[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Importance of Math:
Mathematics is fascinating. Zero is the only number that cannot be represented in Roman numerals. I am surprised to know that the spiral shapes of sunflowers follow a Fibonacci sequence. Fibonacci numbers seem to be nature’s numbering system and apply to the growth of living things, including cells, petals on a flower, wheat, honeycomb, pine cones and much more.[1] It is interesting to note that the most popular favorite number is 7, perhaps it is ‘arithmetically unique’: Seven indicates seven deadly sins, seven colours of the rainbow, seven pillars of wisdom, seven seas, seven dwarfs, seven days in the week etc.[2]
What is zeroth power of zero? The answers could be different: A high school teacher may prove that 00 has no value; the calculus teacher might argue that 00 depends on the direction that we take the limit; and a mathematician would say that 00 = 1 because it is convenient – Otherwise we would have problem in using the Binomial theorem.
Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) said, “The universe cannot be read until we have learned the language and become familiar with the characters in which it is written. It is written in mathematical language, and the letters are triangles, circles and other geometrical figures, without which means it is humanly impossible to comprehend a single word. Without these, one is wandering about in a dark labyrinth.”[3]
Is Math difficult?:
There is an impression prevalent among the children and students that Math is tough and only the gifted ones could learn Math. Whenever people come to know, in Europe and in the USA, that I am a physicist, their immediate reaction is: Oh boy, that is a difficult subject. But I enjoyed Physics as a student and I continue to enjoy Physics as a scientist – I always feel that I am a student of Physics. It is because I like Physics and I am interested in it. Actually I preferred Physics in college, because I was good in Math – I scored cent percent both in the school final year exam as well as in my BSc. Interest and motivation in a subject would take the person a long way. We need to inculcate this spirit in our students to dispel the myth that Math is tough.
Pope Francis’ Address:
Pope Francis during his address to the members of International Federation of Catholic Universities at the end of their conference on Nov 4th last year indicated the need for effective teaching and useful research with social responsibility. He added that research should have its focus the root causes of conflicts in the globe and should seek for viable solutions. He concluded that our education should be formation of “political leaders of the future, entrepreneurs, and artists of culture”. Jesuit education, in general, has the prime aim of empowering the marginalized – Those who are unserved, underserved, or disserved. And this includes Math teaching and learning.
Instead of Math remaining a theoretical subject of in-depth research, we as researchers should be innovative to make use of all methods of research, whether it is fuzzy logic or graph theory, for the good of the common people.
Math and Social Responsibility:
We know that the corporate companies should keep apart 2% of their surplus for social cause. Math, just like any scientific subject, should serve the needs of the society. You are well aware that the Greek geniuses such as Pythagoras, Euclid, Aristotle, Hypatia etc were great philosophers. And they have influenced Math. Later Math, such as Boolean algebra, influenced modern science. Boolean algebra is until now controlling the computer world with its 0 and 1.
Our own ancestors have made tremendous contributions in Math and science: Aryabhata (476–550) discovered the position of nine planets and stated that these planets revolve around the sun. He also stated the correct number of days in a year, that is, 365. Brahmagupta (598-668) introduced zero in Math. Bhaskara (1114–1185) declared that any number divided by zero is infinity. Satyendranath Bose (1894–1974), in collaboration with Albert Einstein laid the foundation for Bose-Einstein statistics in quantum mechanics.[4]
Methodology of Teaching and Learning:
I remember a documentary in the beginning of my Jesuit training, in 1971, about the relationship between music and Math. Donald Duck would be given a long string fixed at both ends. Donald Duck would pluck the string and a musical note would ring out. Then the string would be cut into half – The note would be higher, its octave. Finally Donald Duck would be able to understand the origin of do, re, me, fa, sol, la, ti, do…
There is a legend: A girl found it very difficult to do Math in the class. The teacher told her: Even if Einstein teaches you, you would not pick up Math. The child confided it to her mother and the mother found out that Einstein was living very close by. She went to Einstein and requested him to teach Math to her daughter and he readily agreed. The outcome: The girl came first in the terminal exam. The surprised teachers asked her: How come? And the girl quietly told the teacher: Einstein taught me, Mam.
The two children of my student in Boston did Russian Math. Today his daughter, though in the 9th grade, is already in the college track doing college level Math courses. I have seen the Japanese way of multiplication: Draw vertical and horizontal lines according the digits of multiplication and write down anti-clockwise the intersection points, you get the product.
You might have seen in the Kindergarten and in the primary schools, if the child likes the teacher, the child shows interest in the subject – If the teacher is tough or critical, the child not only loses interest, but hates the subject. If we, as teachers, are interested in students and inspiring to them and makes the subject easy to learn, we could win the students for life.
Applied Math:
Today’s need is applied Math. Math has become fundamental and essential in many fields such as natural as well as social sciences, engineering, medicine, finance etc. The application of Math is ever widening as we experience in game theory. In the form of string theory, scientists try to have a better understanding of the origin of the universe – Recently I was reading the book entitled, ‘The Grand Design’ by Stephen Hawking. He discusses the string theory while explaining the unified theory of forces. Keep exploring the possibility of Math that serves the needs of human beings for better life of harmony and peace.
I am happy to know that Loyola Research Institute of Mathematics and Computing Sciences (LIMCOS) at Loyola College, Chennai has taken the initiative hosting an International Conference on Computing Sciences (ICCS 2018) on 8th and 9th January, 2018. LIMCOS creates the forum for researchers to meet periodically to foster sharing of knowledge and to train doctoral scholars. It is nice to know that the conference was a meeting point to evolve innovative ideas in the analysis of models for computing sciences through presentation of research papers.
It is good to have come together for the conference; it is wonderful to have put your heads together and share your contribution to Math; and it would be better if you could continue with your collaboration to enrich the world of Math for the betterment of people who live therein. It is also good to form, from among our students, future Ramanujams.
Thank you for the opportunity to meet with you and wish you all the best in your teaching and research.
Francis P Xavier SJ
Gasson Professor, Boston College, USA
Global Vice President for Academics and Research, JWL, Geneva
09Jan2018
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibonacci_number
[2] https://www.buzzfeed.com/kellyoakes/maths-facts-youll-probably-never-need-to-use?utm_term=.ugy4D9Yzv#.xfBXRVWve
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathematics
[4] http://www.famous-mathematicians.com/top-10-indian-mathematicians-contributions/[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]