African Mathematics: History, Textbook and Classroom Lessons

by Robin Oliver Walker, John Matthews (Contributor)

African Mathematics: History, Textbook and Study Guide aims to meet several objectives. Firstly, the book gives a historical overview of Africa and its contribution to Mathematics. Secondly, the book provides the teacher and the learner with study materials that can be used in the classroom. Thirdly, the book introduces some of the numerical patterns and puzzles that has fascinated one of the authors John Matthews. Fourthly, the book introduces the lectures, classes and workshops that the two authors teach on these subjects. Mathematics has an interesting history in Africa. This history forms the first part of the book. The earliest known mathematical artefact in human history is the Lebombo Bone. Thought to be 37,000 years old, it was discovered by archaeologists in South Africa. Scholars believe that the number system carved into the bone represents a lunar calendar. Later mathematical evidence comes from the Ishango region of Central Africa, Ancient Egypt, Medieval North Africa, Ethiopia, Medieval West Africa and Medieval Central Africa. Mathematics teachers have asked for material that can be used in the classroom where these African mathematical ideas can be used, tested or even challenged. To this aim, the second part of the book presents classroom material that can engage children. Each lesson demonstrates a mathematical principle followed by classroom exercises that the pupils can attempt. We have provided perhaps 22 hours worth of teaching and learning material. The third part of this book was written wholly by John Matthews, a secondary school mathematics teacher. It contains a sample of his tips and short cuts that any pupil of mathematics can profitably use to improve their engagement with number. Mr Matthews also believes that students of mathematics should enjoy detecting patterns in number sequences. In the fourth part of the book he presents a sample of his own discoveries in this area. He also presents classroom exercises that the pupils can attempt.

168 pages, Paperback

First published July 28, 2014

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since reading Claudia Zaslavsky's "Africa Counts" in the 1990's, I have had a keen interest in the contribution that African people have made to the science of Mathematics.

In "African Mathematics", Robin Walker and John Matthews deal with the history and development of the science in Africa, both as an abstract study and a practical tool. We find Africans working with the more well known aspects of the science such as geometry and algebra, but in addition we come across some unusual calculating techniques and numerical systems! Along the way the author’s describe prehistoric bones inscribed with numerical data and the design of the cornrow/canerow hairstyles of African Women which are based on fractal geometry!

To encourage learning and thinking about the subject, the second part of this book is presented as a series of classroom lessons containing a number of Mathematical questions and problems. This is a useful resource to support classroom teaching.

Overall this book presents the subject extremely well and has a good reference section for further reading. I would certainly recommend this book.