Course reflection

This course has been the one that pushed me to think outside of my comfort zone more than any other. We were introduced to various ancient methods and strategies for doing mathematics, many of which I had never encountered before and had no prior knowledge of. It was both challenging and incredibly eye-opening to explore these unfamiliar approaches like different bases. Beyond the technical aspects, the course also highlighted the beauty of mathematics, showing how many mathematical pursuits originally emerged as ways to explore art, self-expression, and the deeper truths of the world. This perspective gave the subject a richness and depth I hadn’t fully appreciated before. While I had some awareness that there were disputes over discoveries and the credit given for them, I didn’t realize how widespread and frequent these issues were until this course. The history behind mathematical concepts and discoveries added a unique character and narrative to the subject, making it far more humanistic and interesting. This historical context is something that feels missing in typical high school classrooms, where the focus is often on the "how" of mathematics without delving into the "why" or the stories of those who contributed to its development.