Islamic/Greek Comparison Essay.

Write a short essay that evaluates Islamic and Greek mathematics and mathematicians that addresses the following topics. In some cases, there is little difference between the contributions, in some the subject is moot. In other cases the difference is wide indeed.

1. Main thrust of mathematical developments
2. Centralization of learning
3. Comprehension of Exact vs Approximate
4. Definite presence of Pure vs Applied
5. Level of rigor
6. Perceived value by society
7. Receptiveness to new concepts
8. Active development of algorithms
9. Wide use of mathematical relationships
10. Importance of axioms and postulates
11. Level of philosophical underpinnings
12. Wide use and understanding of infinity
13. Wide use of sets and symbols

These themes are central to the study of the history of mathematics, especially when one tries to compare the mathematics of different eras. A thorough understanding of the relative differences puts into perspective what mathematics was like at other times and particularly what it is like now. Who was it that said that one can only understand the present when one has studied the past?

Length of essay. 300-500 words, more if you need them.