[Maths-Education] RE: Maths-Education digest, Vol 1 #383 - 2 msgs

[Steve Byatt]

Averages...
This might be a piece of fiction, but I remember being told (ar school) that 
one of the earliest uses of "mean" came from allocating the costs of running a 
port "fairly". Anyone else come across that?
>===== Original Message From maths-education@nottingham.ac.uk =====
>Send Maths-Education mailing list submissions to
>	maths-education@nottingham.ac.uk
>
>To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>	http://lists.nottingham.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/maths-education
>or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>	maths-education-request@nottingham.ac.uk
>
>You can reach the person managing the list at
>	maths-education-admin@nottingham.ac.uk
>
>When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
>than "Re: Contents of Maths-Education digest..."
>
>
>*************************************************
>This is the regular digest of all messages sent out on the discussion list 
Maths-Education.
>*************************************************
>
>
>Today's Topics:
>
>   1. (no subject) (John Monaghan)
>   2. Request: references about the history of averages (Mark S. BOYLAN(EDS))
>
>--__--__--
>
>Message: 1
>Date: Mon, 02 Sep 2002 10:23:43 +0100
>To: maths-education@nottingham.ac.uk
>From: John Monaghan <J.D.Monaghan@education.leeds.ac.uk>
>Subject: [Maths-Education] (no subject)
>Reply-To: maths-education@nottingham.ac.uk
>
>http://www.reims.iufm.fr/Recherche/ereca/colloques/tice_math_juin_2003_gb.htm
>contains information on two Maths/ICT education conferences which will be
>held in France next June. The second conference, few details available at
>the moment, will run immediately after the first one.
>
>European Congress, Integrating Technologies into Mathematics Education
>
>3rd Computer Algebra in Mathematics Education Symposium
>
>Although the Congress will be principally in French we are trying to get
>funds for simultaneous translation. Whether we are successful or not this
>will be a great opportunity to share ideas across the channel.
>
>
>
>
>
>--__--__--
>
>Message: 2
>Date: Mon, 02 Sep 2002 11:15:46 +0100
>To: maths-education@nottingham.ac.uk
>From: "Mark S. BOYLAN(EDS)" <M.S.Boylan@shu.ac.uk>
>Subject: [Maths-Education] Request: references about the history of averages
>Reply-To: maths-education@nottingham.ac.uk
>
>Hi folks,
>
>I wonder if anyone has any good references about the origins of 'averages'
>(mean, median and mode)in mathematics, , and also their inclusion in the
>school curriculum,
>
>I am interested both in 'raw' history, and also any social/cultural
>analysis - for example why do 'we' in maths ed tend to list them as mean,
>median and mode,
>
>I have some ideas already about that
>
>thanks
>
>Mark
>
>Mark Boylan
>School of Education
>Sheffield Hallam University
>35 Broomgrove Rd
>Sheffield
>UK
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>--__--__--
>
>_______________________________________________
>Maths-Education mailing list
>Maths-Education@nottingham.ac.uk
>http://lists.nottingham.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/maths-education
>
>
>End of Maths-Education Digest

Steve Byatt,
Headteacher,
Ellowes Hall School,
Stickley Lane,
Lower Gornal. Dudley. DY3 2JH
01902 825025 (fax: 825035)