Term of Award

Spring 2018

Degree Name

Master of Science in Mathematics (M.S.)

Document Type and Release Option

Thesis (restricted to Georgia Southern)

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Department

Department of Mathematical Sciences

Committee Chair

Hua Wang

Committee Member 1

Eryn Stehr

Committee Member 2

Colton Magnant

Abstract

We explore the history of math logic and the mathematician David Hilbert, who used this logic to derive his famous hotel problem. We also apply related concepts to classroom teaching of problem-solving. Hilbert's Hotel Problem invites the curiosity of infinity and has led to many variations such as Hilbert's Machine, and a generalization involving one of America's favorite toys: the slinky. Moreover, infinity prompts paradoxes. As we delve into these problems, the contradictions and their origins will be discussed. Secondly, we examine the importance of problem solving to the public education curriculum as well as a way to teach this skill through Polya's techniques. Finally, MTV's "Are You the One?" is used to showcase a culturally relevant way to teach problem solving as well as higher mathematical content matter.

Research Data and Supplementary Material

No

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