Dec 26, 2024  
2016-2017 Academic Catalogue 
    
Catalog Navigation
  Catalog Home
  Correspondence
  Institute Calendar 2016-2017
  The Mission
  The Institute
  Admissions
  Costs and Payment Schedule
  Financial Aid
  The Academic Program
  The Co-Curricular Program
  Prizes, Medals, and Awards
  Institutional Information
  Reserve Officers Training Corps
  The Curricula
  Courses of Instruction
  Personnel of the Institute
  Support Agencies
  Statistics
HELP
2016-2017 Academic Catalogue [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

HNS 377W - Great Ideas in Mathematics

Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 0
Credit Hours: 3

A common misconception among students is that mathematics is all about memorizing formulas and applyinng them to specific types of problems.  They often carry this error with them throughout life.  This course will shatter that misconception.  We will take a journey through some of the greatest and most beautiful ideas of mathematics (and human thought in general) as we explore the theory of numbers,the concept of infinity, selected topics in geometry, topology, chaos theory, fractals, and probability.  Along the way we will focus on skills and creative ways of thinking that will help solve problems in any area of life.   Like all honors seminars, this course is writing-intensive. Prerequisite(s): Enrollment is restricted to cadets who have been admitted to the Institute Honors Program.