• Information and Communications Magazine
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.101-108
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• 2013

본고에서는 2013년 대한민국 과학기술 명예의 전당에 조선시대 수학자 최석정(崔錫鼎 1646~1715) 선현이 헌정된 것을 기념하여 그의 저서 구수략(九數略)에 기록된 '직교라틴방진'이 조합수학(Combinatorial Mathematics)의 효시로 일컫는 오일러(Leonhard Euler, 1707~1783)의 '직교라틴방진' 보다 최소 61년 앞섰다는 사실이 국제적으로 인정받게 된 경위를 소개하고 최석정의 9차 직교라틴방진의 특성을 살펴본다.

• The Magazine of the IEIE
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• v.39 no.7
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• pp.54-61
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• 2012

우리 몸에서 가장 중요한 것은 얼굴과 두 눈이고, 아름다움도 얼굴에서 나온다. 세상에서 가장 아름다운 여인으로 서양에서는 클레오파트라(Cleopatra)이고, 동양은 양귀비(楊貴妃, 719~756)를 대표적 예로 든다. 미국 캘리포니아 대학의 Zadeh 교수는 강의 시 휴식시간에 '어느 교수의 부인이 아름다운가?' 라는 농담을 하면서 제일 예쁜 여자는 A그룹, 그 다음은 B 그룹 등으로 구분하는데 착안하여 Fuzzy 개념을 발견(1965)하였고, 그 후 연구계 및 산업체에서 이 이론을 확장해 퍼지세탁기, 퍼지냉장고 등이 가전 시장을 석권한 바 있다. 한편, 2004년 미국 하버드대 기숙사에서 친구와 함께 재미삼아 페이스북을 만든 마크 저커버그(28). 여자친구의 사생활을 여기에 올려 이별의 아픔을 맛보기도 했던 그가 8년 만에 세계적 282억 달러의 부호가 됐다. 세계 인터넷업계가 가슴을 졸이며 기다려온 페이스북의 기업공개(IPO 주식상장)를 통해서다. 1783년 스위스 수학자인 오일러(Euler, 1707~1783) : 학문적으로 방대한 업적을 남긴 만큼 오일러의 인생도 파란만장했다. 그는 20대 초반의 젊은 나이에 병으로 한쪽 눈을 실명하는 불운을 겪기도 했다. 러시아로 돌아간 말년에는 수학문제를 풀기위해서 사흘 밤낮을 꼬박 몰두하다 다른 쪽 시력마저 잃게 된다. 당시 파리아카데미에서는 수여하는 권위 있는 상을 수상하고자 저명한 수학자들도 몇 개월 붙잡는 어려운 문제를 단 사흘 만에 풀었는데 너무나 집중한 나머지 실명한 것이었다. 양쪽 눈을 모두 잃었지만 오일러는 비서에게 자신의 생각들을 받아 적게 하는 방식으로 계속해서 훌륭한 업적을 남겼다. 양 눈(안(眼)) 사이 거리는 6.5cm, 이 시각차가 오늘 3D TV 시대를 열었다. 본고에서는 최근 관심이 고조된 저커버그의 페이스북과 오일러 e에 관해 요약했다.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.53-75
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• 2012

When imaginary numbers were first encountered in the 16th century, mathematicians were able to calculate the imaginary numbers the same as they are today. However, it required 200 years to mathematically acknowledge the existence of imaginary numbers. The new mathematical situation that arose with a development in mathematics required a harmony of real numbers and imaginary numbers. As a result, the concept of complex number became clear. A history behind the development of complex numbers involved a process of determining a comprehensive perspective that ties real numbers and imaginary numbers in a single category, complex numbers. This came after a resolution of conflict between real numbers and imaginary numbers. This study identified the new perspective and way of mathematical thinking emerging from resolving the conflicts. Also educational implications of the analysis were discussed.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.41-52
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• 2009

Dutch mathematician Simon Stevin published De Thiende(The Tenth) in 1583. In that book Stevin suggested new numerical notation which could express all numbers. That new notation was decimal fraction system. In this article I will argue that Stevin invented new decimal fraction system with two main purposes. The explicit purpose was to invent a new system which could be used easily by practical mathematicians. The implicit purpose which cannot be found in De Thiende alone but in his other writings was to break the Aristotelian tradition which separated geometry and arithmetic which dealt continuous magnitude and discrete numbers respectively.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.95-112
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• 2006

The purpose of this paper is to investigate a classic mathematician and inventor Archimedes' work ${\ll}$On the Sphere and Cylinder${\gg}$. The propositions of this book which deals with three dimensional geometry are reviewed. Through the review this study tries to find out how Archimedes mastered spherical figures and how classical mathematics ideas are related to the modern concept of integration. The results of this study seems to help people understand deeply modern mathematics and to be good resources to develop new mathematical ideas.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.15-27
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• 2012

Thomas Harriot(1560-1621) introduced a simplified notation for algebra. His fundamental research on the theory of equations was far ahead of that time. He invented certain symbols which are used today. Harriot treated all answers to solve equations equally whether positive or negative, real or imaginary. He did outstanding work on the solution of equations, recognizing negative roots and complex roots in a way that makes his solutions look like a present day solution. Since he published no mathematical work in his lifetime, his achievements were not recognized in mathematical history and mathematics education. In this paper, by comparing his works with Viete and Descartes those are mathematicians in the same age, I show his achievements in mathematics.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.77-88
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• 2006

In 1876, America's first Jewish math professor J. J. Sylvester took a department head position at the first research university in USA at the age of 61. He launched the America's first research journal of mathematics in 1877. We study the role and meaning of J. J. Sylvester, F. Klein and E. H. Moore in late 19th century of American mathematics from Korean's perspective.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.53-68
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• 2009

From ancient Greek times, the infinite concepts had debated, and then they had been influenced by Hebrew's tradition Kabbalab. Next, those infinite thoughts had been developed by Roman Catholic theologists in the medieval ages. After Renaissance movement, the mathematical infinite thoughts had been described by the vanishing point in Renaissance paintings. In the end of 1800s, the infinite thoughts had been concreted by Cantor such as Set Theory. At that time, the set theoretical trend had been appeared by pointillism of Seurat and Signac. After 20 century, mathematician $M\ddot{o}bius$ invented <$M\ddot{o}bius$ band> which dimension was more 3-dimensional space. While mathematicians were pursuing about infinite dimensional space, artists invented new paradigm, surrealism. That was not real world's images. So, it is called by surrealism. In contemporary arts, a lot of artists has made their works by mathematical material such as Mo?bius band, non-Euclidean space, hypercube, and so on.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.117-130
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• 2009

This study shows how to use effectively construction and solution of the quadratic equation developed by mathematicians such as Gyung Sun-jing, Hong Jung-ha, Hong Dae-yong, Lee Sang-hyuk, and Nam Byung-gil through mathematics history of Chosun Dynasty. Mathematics history of Chosun Dynasty can be used in order to enhance comprehension and increase interest in an introduction to the quadratic equation. It also can be used to help motivate middle school students to solve the quadratic equation with much interest during the development phase, and develope conceptual thinking and reflective thinking in the practical phase.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.471-488
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• 2019

This paper aims to examine how mathematical history is used in $ textbooks according to the 2015-Revised Curriculum. We analyze the distribution and characteristics of making use of the mathematical history in the nine textbooks, using the framework suggested by Jankvist (2009) on the whys and hows of using historical tasks. First, the tasks related to mathematical history in the textbooks are mostly used as an affective tool, while few tasks are used as a cognitive tool. Second, most of the historical tasks of the type of an affective tool are introducing the anecdotes of mathematicians or in the history of mathematics, and only one case is trying to show human nature of mathematics by illuminating the difficulties mathematicians were faced with. Third, all the mathematical history tasks used as affective tools and goals are illumination materials, while only two out of the ten tasks in the category of a cognitive tool are illumination materials, yet eight others are modular ones. Considering the importance and value of using mathematical history in the math education, this paper recommends that more modular materials on mathematical history tasks in the category of cognitive tools and goals should be developed and their deployment in the textbooks or courses should be promoted. $