Week 9 Discussion

Astronomy requires mathematical concepts from various subjects including

algebra, statistics, geometry, calculus, scientific notation, and logarithm scales.
In choosing two concepts/units from astronomy that would better demonstrate
mathematical concepts, I would choose scientific notation and trigonometry.
Scientific notation is used when working with very large or small numbers and
while students may understand the concept, the numbers may have little
relevance unless provided in the context of a real-life situation. Astronomy for
example, provides the large numbers that are needed to convert to scientific
notation, whether it be the distance from the Earth to the sun, planet size, length
of orbits, or distance between or to or from distant stars.
In calculating these distances, students could also another math concept of
trigonometric functions (sine, cosine, and tangent), which details the relationship
between the sides and angles of triangles. Throughout history, trigonometry was
used to calculate distances between celestial bodies including stars, planets, and
the sun. By combining these two concepts (trigonometry and scientific notation)
students would be able to have a real-life example of the concepts as well as a
look at astronomy.
One resource that I had previously used while designing an interdisciplinary unit
was through NASA and is called Space Math. This website is run by NASA and
provides enormous amounts of resources and lessons for all grade levels, that
link mathematics and science to the field of astronomy. The link for the site is:
http://spacemath.gsfc.nasa.gov
The invention of logarithms by John Napier in 1614 helped to simplify
mathematical calculations and is the basis on which the slide rule was
built (University of Florida, n.d.). A few predecessors of the slide rule include
Napier Bones and Gunters Scale (University of Florida, n.d.). In 1617, John
Napier creates and utilizes calculating sticks based on the geologia (lattice)
multiplication method which helped to multiply two multi-digit
numbers (University of Florida, n.d.). A link providing more detail on this
method can be found at Wolfram Mathworld, link:
http://mathworld.wolfram.com/LatticeMethod.html .
Gunters scale developed in 1620 by Edmund Gunter (mathematician,
astronomer, clergyman), however more closely resembles the slide rule (Zeldes,
2010). Gunters rule provided the user with many scales; none more important
than the one laid out as a two-cycle logarithmic scale, marked NUM (Zeldes,
2010). Using only his scale, calipers, and dividers, he was able to quickly
calculate large number multiplication and division (Zeldes, 2010).
However, it is William Oughtred (minister) that is credited with the invention of
the slide rule in 1622 (University of Florida, n.d.). Eliminating the need for
dividers and calipers, Oughtred placed the two scales side-by-side (sliding them
back and forth as needed) making calculation much easier and faster (University
of Florida, n.d.). Sometime around the year 1970 though, the slide rule began to
become obsolete with the invention of small, inexpensive pocket
calculators (Rooney).

Rooney, A. The Story of Mathematics. London: Arcturus Publishing Limited.

University of Florida. (n.d.). A Brief History of the Slide Rules. Retrieved from
How Slide Rules Helped Win the War:
http://www2.mae.ufl.edu/sliderule/pages/lesson01_reading01.html
Zeldes, N. (2010). Gunter's Rule. Retrieved from History of Computing:
http://www.nzeldes.com/HOC/Gunter.htm