Question

Explain the similarities and differences between the "Traditional approach" and the "New Math". Make sure you tell what event (And what year) served as the catalyst for its birth, and mention the two defining features of the "New Math". Discuss society's concerns with the "New Math", the "Back to Basics" movement, and student equity. 4.

Answer 1

Modern mathematics uses the theory of sets very extensively, that was the difference I observed by pursuing the School Mathematics Project compared to my classmates who had done ‘traditional mathematics’. Now, this was getting on for 50 years ago now, so perhaps ‘modern’ mathematics isn’t so modern anymore.

Traditional mathematics involved more heavy manipulation, algebra & calculus problems seemed quite a bit more difficult. Modern mathematics was more focused on mathematical principles rather than heavy manipulation, using a trick like symmetry, algebraic identity, etc.

traditional mathematics deals mainly (but not entirely) with continuous properties of functions and modern mathematics with discrete properties of functions.