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Infinite Secrets
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Viewing Ideas
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Before Watching
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Archimedes made a number of mathematical and scientific
discoveries during his lifetime. As they watch, have students
take notes on Archimedes' key discoveries, how he made those
discoveries, and the importance of each discovery.
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Develop a timeline of important mathematicians, including those
from non-Western civilizations such as Egypt, China, India, and
Mesoamerica. Have students research the time and place where
each mathematician lived and the contribution he or she made to
mathematics. Develop a class timeline and add Archimedes to
place him in the historical context of other mathematicians.
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Ask students how math is important in their everyday lives. Have
them give examples of how they use it or how their parents use
it (such as baking cookies, paying bills, building an object, or
planning a garden).
After Watching
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Have students refer to the notes they took about Archimedes'
scientific and mathematical contributions. What were some of his
inventions? Which of his discoveries were the most revolutionary
and why?
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An anonymous collector paid $2 million for Archimedes'
Palimpsest (a palimpsest is a manuscript that has been written
on more than once). Discuss with students what makes the book so
valuable. How was it created? How was it analyzed when first
found in 1906? How is it being analyzed today? What was the
effect of losing the manuscript for so long?
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