LEARN AND APPLY MATH!
Back in the early 1980's, black history scholar, John G. Jackson of Chicago, Illinois, sent me a letter requesting that I find the volume of a certain cylinder. Flummoxed by his request and still more than a little bit intimidated by mathematics, I never even bothered to try to solve it, but remained curious as to his motivation all of these years.
Today, while reading AFRICAN MATHEMATICS: HISTORY, TEXTBOOK AND CLASSROOM LESSONS by Robin Walker and John Matthews, (2014) I found that the "Rhind Mathematical Papyrus" from ancient Egypt contains "the earliest documented implied value for pi in a written document" (p.24) while learning, how, by formula, ancient Egyptians thousands of years ago, had found the volume of cylinders--Dr. Jackson's question to me!
Dr. Jackson is the author of INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONS; MAN GOD AND CIVILIZATIONS; and CHRISTIANITY BEFORE CHRIST. He was my house guest in 1983, when he came to Kansas City to lecture at my invitation , when I was still actively promoting black history and knowledge by newsletter & lecturers.
I think he was telling me that mathematical mastery is as much a part of black history as facts and dates, and that learning and applying math is our solution to what binds us!
Sunday, May 17, 2015
LEARN AND APPLY MATH TO BE FREE
LEARN AND APPLY MATH!
Back in the early 1980's, black history scholar, John G. Jackson of Chicago, Illinois, sent me a letter requesting that I find the volume of a certain cylinder. Flummoxed by his request and still more than a little bit intimidated by mathematics, I never even bothered to try to solve it, but remained curious as to his motivation all of these years.
Today, while reading AFRICAN MATHEMATICS: HISTORY, TEXTBOOK AND CLASSROOM LESSONS by Robin Walker and John Matthews, (2014) I found that the "Rhind Mathematical Papyrus" from ancient Egypt contains "the earliest documented implied value for pi in a written document" (p.24) while learning, how, by formula, ancient Egyptians thousands of years ago, had found the volume of cylinders--Dr. Jackson's question to me!
Dr. Jackson is the author of INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONS; MAN GOD AND CIVILIZATIONS; and CHRISTIANITY BEFORE CHRIST. He was my house guest in 1983, when he came to Kansas City to lecture at my invitation , when I was still actively promoting black history and knowledge by newsletter & lecturers.
I think he was telling me that mathematical mastery is as much a part of black history as facts and dates, and that learning and applying math is our solution to what binds us!