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Overview of the Readings

Hardy Mathematician’s Apology

Hardy Mathematician’s Apology is written by G.H. Hardy describing mathematician as a

just like a poet or a painter It is his testament on passion for pursuits intellectually. He is

emphasizing that patterns are made with ideas. He is correlating a painter with a poet in that

painter is capable of coming up with shapes accompanied by colors and on the other hand, a poet

makes patterns of words. Hardy brings a clear understanding between mathematics and art by

explaining math just in the same way a critic can bring limelight to art. He utilized his skills to

elaborate more about qualities of geniuses in mathematics and reasons that are logical in

pursuing mathematics as a career. He outlines briefly the three and most basics theorems so as to

demonstrate the integral beauty of mathematics for newbie in mathematics. The chapters address

the dissimilarities between several types of applied math and theoretical mathematics. Hardy

spent most of his time in researching in pure and theoretical math. He regarded applied math as

principally inferior. Hardy’s work also showed about his worries and the total usefulness of his

life and work. Mathematician’s Apology has been considered by many as psychological

document meant for geniuses that are depressive for tendency and it has influence on

mathematicians’ generations. Hardy’s belief in writing on mathematics downgrade himself to the

level below the one for pure mathematician. He positioned himself as a critic art, a role he

generalized it as for minds that are second-rate. The reading is about ideals, mathematics, beauty,

art, significance, importance, generality, seriousness, young men, old men and anybody with

interest in math.

Lockhart Mathematician’s Lament

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The reading is by Paul Lockhart strongly focusing on lack of mathematics in learning

institutions. Lockhart convinced that mathematics is just an art though the culture does not

recognize it. The author believes that mathematics needs a huge reform. The point of references

is the Asians Kids who have all what it takes to excel in math. He is relating mathematics to

poet and painting. He is passionate to rescue mathematics in education sector. Throughout the

reading, Lockhart is championing for mathematics to be taught in schools just like other skills

such as driving and music. He is emphasizing on learning complex mathematics in a better way.

He wishes that mathematics should be taught just the same way music is being taught. He is

against the way mathematics is being taught. Lockhart believes that there is something wrong

with the way mathematics is being taught as compared to English.

Highlight and Briefly Discuss Issues Students Find in the Reading Particularly Relevant to

the Course (Art & Science).

i. Mathematics is an art. Lockhart strongly believes that the only thing differentiating math

from other arts is that the culture recognizes math the least.

ii. Mathematics are connected to science. They aid scientists with formulas, feeding of big

numbers into computer according to the reading by Lockhart

Math as a Science

 Observation is being driven by science

 Mathematics is used to analyse patterns

Mathematics as an art

 Artist’s creativity is driven by aesthetics and expressions

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References

Hardy, G. & Snow, C. (1992). A mathematician's apology. London: Cambridge

University Press.

Lockhart, P. (2009). A mathematician's lament. New York, NY: Bellevue Literary Press.