Mathematical Intentions is a series of podcasts by David Dennis on the social and mathematical history of the secondary curriculum: algebra, geometry, trigonometry, logarithms, and calculus.

These conversations attempt to answer the questions "How did we get here?" and "Where should we go from here?" Mathematical Intentions includes interactive demonstrations to do online.

How to use these materials

First listen to the lectures. These give the social-historical background of the mathematics, and are the main framework for the whole project.

Most lectures that describe mathematics have corresponding lecture notes. These supplement the lectures with details of the mathematics, and include exercises, some mandatory, and some for further exploration.

Most lecture notes have associated applets: small interactive programs to illustrate a mathematical concept. When the lecture notes include a picture, the applet gives infinitely many variations on the picture, or sometimes a picture in motion.

There is not a one-to-one correspondence between lectures and lecture notes. Sometimes several lectures discuss the mathematics in one lecture notes document, and vice versa. The lectures discuss the topics only in rough historical order.

Note: This website is being put up during the first half of 2010. Please check back

Podcasts

References and further reading

A bibliography for those who want to check on the details. Includes both history of mathematics and math education books and papers.