Hua Loo-keng and the Movement of Popularizing Mathematics in the People’s Republic of China

This paper examines the mathematical and teaching practices of the renowned self-taught Chinese mathematician Hua Loo-keng in the movement of popularizing mathematics in the People’s Republic of China. In this movement, Hua Loo-keng taught industrial workers and peasants with a low level of educatio...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Jean W. Richard
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Columbia University Libraries 2010-12-01
Series:Journal of Mathematics Education at Teachers College
Online Access:https://journals.library.columbia.edu/index.php/jmetc/article/view/687
Description
Summary:This paper examines the mathematical and teaching practices of the renowned self-taught Chinese mathematician Hua Loo-keng in the movement of popularizing mathematics in the People’s Republic of China. In this movement, Hua Loo-keng taught industrial workers and peasants with a low level of education how to use fairly advanced mathematical methods in their workplace (agriculture, transportation, or industry). This paper explores the mathematical concepts that Hua Loo-keng taught the workers and farmers and how they applied them in their workplace. An important element in the movement of popularizing mathematics in the People’s Republic of China is the non-traditional methods by which Hua Loo-keng taught the workers and farmers.
ISSN:2156-1400
2156-1397