Mathematical experiments—an ideal first step into mathematics

Albrecht Beutelspacher

pp. 19-29

in: Gabriele Kaiser, Helen Forgasz, Mellony Graven, Alain Kuzniak, Elaine Simmt, Binyan Xu (eds), Invited lectures from the 13th international congress on mathematical education, Berlin, Springer, 2018

Abstract

Since the foundation of the Mathematikum, Germany, in 2002 and Il Giardino di Archimede, Florence, Italy, in 2004 there have been many activities around the world to present mathematical experiments in exhibitions and museums. Although these activities are all very successful with respect to their number of visitors, the question arises what is their impact for "learning" mathematics in a broad sense. This question is discussed in the paper. We present a few experiments from the Mathematikum and shall then discuss the questions, as to whether these are experiments and whether they show mathematics. The conclusion will be that experiments provide an optimal first step into mathematics. This means in particular that they do not offer the whole depth of mathematical reasoning, but let the visitors experience real mathematics, insofar as they provide insight by thinking.