Counting in Other Bases: An Intro to Number Theory

This class (especially as an introduction to the full course "Adventures in Number Theory: A History of Bases and Counting") is aimed at introducing students to the amazing field of number theory in mathematics, as well as providing the opportunity to exercise both critical thinking and historical appreciation. The only prerequisites to taking this class are a knowledge of basic arithmetic (namely addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) and an interest in history and other cultures. 

The primary objective of this class is to cultivate an awareness of past and present uses of number systems beyond our everyday base-10 system. Students can come away from this class being familiar with the following:

 - Exponents: what they represent and how they work
 - Bases: what do we mean by "base 10"? What about "base 12"?
 - Elementary expansion and addition in these and other bases

In the full course (listed separately on Outschool), students learn about the birth of these systems, the different purposes and cultures around their use, and how to themselves calculate numbers in them.

Arithmetic evolved through time not only from the base-10 number systems we know and use today but as well from those of the Egyptians, the Romans, the Chinese, and many other cultures. This course will help students appreciate the historical journey of counting and calculating numbers in these many contexts and open the door for them to other exciting subjects in number theory in mathematics. It will also provide insight into world we live in today, where base-10 may be dominant but others (such as base-2 and base-16) more so in fields like computer programming.

So if you love learning world history, mathematics, or both, this is the course for you. I look forward to seeing you in class!