The Reading / Listening - Decimal Point - Level 6

A new discovery has excited mathematicians around the globe. Recently-unearthed documents show a decimal point in the records of a merchant named Giovanni Bianchini, who lived in Venice in the 1440s. Historians have hailed the find as being significant, as it means the decimal point is 150 years older than was previously thought. Bianchini was a keen astronomer. He made many notations about his observances of the heavens. He also provided Venetians with horoscopes based on astrological calculations of the alignment of stars and planets. Mathematician Dr Glen Van Brummelen noticed the use of a decimal point in one of Bianchini's treatises between 1441 and 1450.

Decimal points are such an integral part of life today that it seems they would have been used for thousands of years. Historians say some versions of decimals have existed for over 1,000 years. Records show a form of the mathematical dot being used in the Islamic world in the 900s. It is likely that Bianchini travelled to the Middle East and was influenced by scholars there who were key in forging many mathematical concepts. Other historical evidence shows intellectuals using a form of the point in China in the 1200s. Before the recent discovery, the earliest known definitive use of the decimal point was in 1593. Then, German mathematician Christopher Clavius used a system of decimals in his study of astronomy.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Decimal Point - Level 4  or  Decimal Point - Level 5

Sources
  • https://phys.org/news/2024-02-decimal-centuries-older-historians-thought.html
  • https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/history-of-math-shaken-up-as-fundamental-point-150-years-older-than-thought/ar-BB1iFllb
  • https://www.livescience.com/physics-mathematics/mathematics/worlds-oldest-known-decimal-point-discovered-in-merchants-notes-from-1440s-italy


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. DECIMAL POINTS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about decimal points. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       discovery / mathematician / documents / merchant / decimal point / horoscope / stars
       life today / historians / the Islamic world / the Middle East / intellectuals / astronomy
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. IMPORTANT: Students A strongly believe maths is the most important subject we can study; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. MATHEMATICS: What do you know about these areas of mathematics? Why are they important? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What I Know

Importance

Arithmetic

 

 

Geometry

 

 

Algebra

 

 

Probability

 

 

Trigonometry

 

 

Calculus

 

 
MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. MATHS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "maths". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. SCHOOL SUBJECTS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best school subjects at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Maths
  • Art
  • History
  • Literature
  • English
  • Music
  • I.T.
  • Cooking

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. unearthed a. Someone who studies stars and planets.
      2. hailed b. Found something hidden that wasn't known before, like digging up a treasure.
      3. keen c. Really interested in something or someone.
      4. astronomer d. A prediction about your future based on when you were born.
      5. the heavens e. Things being lined up together, like planets in a row.
      6. horoscope f. Praised someone or something a lot.
      7. alignment g. Another way to say "the sky," where the stars and clouds are.

    Paragraph 2

      8. integral h. Creating something strong, enduring, or successful.
      9. version i. Of a conclusion or agreement done or reached decisively and with authority.
      10. scholar j. Things that show something is true.
      11. forging k. Someone who studies a lot and knows a lot about something.
      12. concept l. An idea or way of thinking.
      13. evidence m. Necessary to make a whole complete; essential or fundamental.
      14. definitive n. A particular form of something differing in certain respects from an earlier form or other forms of the same type of thing.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. Maths teachers worldwide are excited about a new decimal point.     T / F
  2. The oldest known decimal point was used in Venice in the 1440s.     T / F
  3. A merchant from Venice wanted to go to heaven.     T / F
  4. The merchant used the decimal point for his astronomy studies.     T / F
  5. Different forms of the decimal point existed more than 1,000 years ago.  T / F
  6. One form of the decimal point was used in the Middle East in the 900s.    T / F
  7. Another form of the decimal point was used in China in the 1100s.     T / F
  8. The second-earliest known use of the decimal point is from 1593.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. discovery
  2. unearthed
  3. hailed
  4. the heavens
  5. treatises
  6. integral
  7. versions
  8. forging
  9. concepts
  10. definitive
  1. applauded
  2. studies
  3. notions
  4. uncovered
  5. essential
  6. authoritative
  7. find
  8. space
  9. advancing
  10. variations

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. A new discovery has excited mathematicians
  2. Recently-unearthed
  3. his observances of the
  4. horoscopes based on astrological
  5. the alignment of stars
  6. Decimal points are such an integral
  7. influenced by
  8. key in forging many mathematical
  9. historical
  10. the earliest known definitive
  1. and planets
  2. heavens
  3. evidence
  4. use of the decimal point
  5. around the globe
  6. concepts
  7. calculations
  8. part of life today
  9. scholars
  10. documents

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
hailed
heavens
alignment
globe
treatises
previously
merchant
horoscopes

A new discovery has excited mathematicians around the (1) _____________________. Recently-unearthed documents show a decimal point in the records of a (2) _____________________ named Giovanni Bianchini, who lived in Venice in the 1440s. Historians have (3) _____________________ the find as being significant, as it means the decimal point is 150 years older than was (4) _____________________ thought. Bianchini was a keen astronomer. He made many notations about his observances of the (5) _____________________. He also provided Venetians with (6) _____________________ based on astrological calculations of the (7) _____________________ of stars and planets. Mathematician Dr Glen Van Brummelen noticed the use of a decimal point in one of Bianchini's (8) _____________________ between 1441 and 1450.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
form
forging
astronomy
integral
definitive
likely
versions
evidence

Decimal points are such an (9) _____________________ part of life today that it seems they would have been used for thousands of years. Historians say some (10) _____________________ of decimals have existed for over 1,000 years. Records show a (11) _____________________ of the mathematical dot being used in the Islamic world in the 900s. It is (12) _____________________ that Bianchini travelled to the Middle East and was influenced by scholars there who were key in (13) _____________________ many mathematical concepts. Other historical (14) _____________________ shows intellectuals using a form of the point in China in the 1200s. Before the recent discovery, the earliest known (15) _____________________ use of the decimal point was in 1593. Then, German mathematician Christopher Clavius used a system of decimals in his study of (16) _____________________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  A new discovery has excited mathematicians ______
     a.  around the global
     b.  around the globule
     c.  around the globe
     d.  around the globes
2)  Recently-unearthed documents show a decimal point in the records ______
     a.  of a merchandise
     b.  of a merchants
     c.  of a merch chant
     d.  of a merchant
3)  Historians have hailed the find ______
     a.  as being significant
     b.  as being significance
     c.  as being signify can't
     d.  as being significantly
4)  He made many notations about his observances ______
     a.  of the heaven
     b.  of the heathens
     c.  of the heavens
     d.  of the heavenly
5)  Dr Glen Van Brummelen noticed the use of a decimal point in one ______
     a.  of Bianchini's treatises
     b.  of Bianchini's treaties
     c.  of Bianchini's treats
     d.  of Bianchini's trestles

6)  Decimal points are such ______
     a.  an integer part
     b.  an inter grail part
     c.  an in tailgate part
     d.  an integral part
7)  Historians say some versions of ______
     a.  decimals have exited
     b.  decimals have exalted
     c.  decimals have existed
     d.  decimals have exist it
8)  It is likely that Bianchini travelled to the Middle East and was ______
     a.  influenced by scholarly
     b.  influenced by collars
     c.  influenced by schoolers
     d.  influenced by scholars
9)  Before the recent discovery, the earliest ______
     a.  known definition use
     b.  known definitive use
     c.  known definitively use
     d.  known define it use
10)  Christopher Clavius used a system of decimals in his ______
     a.  study of astronomical
     b.  study of gastronomy
     c.  study of astronomy
     d.  study of gastronomies

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A new (1) ____________________ mathematicians around the globe. Recently-unearthed documents show a decimal point in the records of a merchant named Giovanni Bianchini, who lived in Venice in the 1440s. Historians have hailed the find (2) ____________________, as it means the decimal point is 150 years older than was previously thought. Bianchini was a keen astronomer. He (3) ____________________ about his observances of the heavens. He also provided Venetians (4) ____________________ on astrological calculations of the (5) ____________________ and planets. Mathematician Dr Glen Van Brummelen (6) ____________________ of a decimal point in one of Bianchini's treatises between 1441 and 1450.

Decimal points are such an (7) ____________________ life today that it seems they would have been used for thousands of years. Historians say (8) ____________________ decimals have existed for over 1,000 years. Records show a form of the mathematical dot being used in the Islamic world in the 900s. It is likely that Bianchini travelled to the Middle East and was influenced by scholars there who were (9) ____________________ many mathematical concepts. Other (10) ____________________ intellectuals using a form of the point in China in the 1200s. Before the recent discovery, the earliest (11) ____________________ of the decimal point was in 1593. Then, German mathematician Christopher Clavius used a system of decimals in his (12) ____________________.

Comprehension questions

  1. Where has a new discovery excited mathematicians?
  2. In which city did the merchant Giovanni Bianchini live?
  3. What was Giovanni Bianchini keen on?
  4. What did Giovanni Bianchini provide people with?
  5. Between which years did Giovanni Bianchini use the decimal points?
  6. What does the article say is an integral part of life today?
  7. For how long have some versions of the decimal point existed?
  8. When was a form of the decimal point used in the Islamic world?
  9. Where might Giovanni Bianchini have travelled to?
  10. When is the second-earliest known use of the decimal point?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Where has a new discovery excited mathematicians?
a) in maths departments
b) in universities
c) online
d) around the globe
2) In which city did the merchant Giovanni Bianchini live?
a) Vienna
b) Venice
c) London
d) Paris
3) What was Giovanni Bianchini keen on?
a) numbers
b) algebra
c) astronomy
d) telescopes
4) What did Giovanni Bianchini provide people with?
a) horoscopes
b) hope
c) business ideas
d) maths lessons
5) Between which years did Giovanni Bianchini use the decimal points?
a) 1440 and 1450
b) 1441 and 1451
c) 1441 and 1450
d) 1442 and 1450

6) What does the article say is an integral part of life today?
a) maths
b) decimal points
c) plus signs
d) algebra
7) For how long have some versions of the decimal point existed?
a) less than 1,000 years ago
b) around 1,000 years ago
c) exactly 1,000 years ago
d) more than 1,000 years
8) When was a form of the decimal point used in the Islamic world?
a) in the 900s
b) in the 1100s
c) in the 770s
d) in the 600s
9) Where might Giovanni Bianchini have travelled to?
a) China
b) Africa
c) the Middle East
d) India
10) When is the second-earliest known use of the decimal point?
a) in 1539
b) in 1593
c) in 1359
d) in 1953

Role play

Role  A – Maths
You think maths is the best school subject. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their subjects. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): art, English or cooking.

Role  B – Art
You think art is the best school subject. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their subjects. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): maths, English or cooking.

Role  C – English
You think English is the best school subject. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their subjects. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): art, maths or cooking.

Role  D – Cooking
You think cooking is the best school subject. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their subjects. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): art, English or maths.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'decimal'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'point'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • globe
    • records
    • find
    • heavens
    • stars
    • noticed
    • life
    • versions
    • 900s
    • key
    • 1200s
    • system

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Decimal Point

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'decimal'?
    3. How useful is the decimal point?
    4. Are you surprised that the decimal point is so new?
    5. 'Maths' is British English; 'math' is American English. Which is best?
    6. How interested are you in astrology?
    7. How useful is being good at maths?
    8. Which is more important, astrology or astronomy?
    9. What do you think of horoscopes?
    10. What do you know about the stars and planets?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'point'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What would life be like without a decimal point?
    5. How important is astronomy?
    6. How often do you use decimal points?
    7. How important are mathematicians?
    8. What do you know about maths and the Islamic world?
    9. What three adjectives best describe this story, and why?
    10. What questions would you like to ask a mathematician?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    A new discovery has (1) ____ mathematicians around the globe. Recently-unearthed documents show a decimal point (2) ____ the records of a merchant named Giovanni Bianchini, who lived in Venice in the 1440s. Historians have (3) ____ the find as being significant, as it means the decimal point is 150 years older than was previously thought. Bianchini was a (4) ____ astronomer. He made many notations about his observances of the heavens. He also provided Venetians with (5) ____ based on astrological calculations of the alignment of stars and planets. Mathematician Dr Glen Van Brummelen noticed the use of a decimal point in one of Bianchini's (6) ____ between 1441 and 1450.

    Decimal points are such an (7) ____ part of life today that it seems they would have been used for thousands of years. Historians say some (8) ____ of decimals have existed for over 1,000 years. Records show a form of the mathematical dot (9) ____ used in the Islamic world in the 900s. It is likely that Bianchini travelled to the Middle East and was influenced (10) ____ scholars there who were key in forging many mathematical concepts. Other historical evidence shows intellectuals using a form of the point in China in the 1200s. Before the recent discovery, the earliest known (11) ____ use of the decimal point was in 1593. Then, German mathematician Christopher Clavius used a system of (12) ____ in his study of astronomy.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     excited     (b)     exited     (c)     exalted     (d)     extended    
    2. (a)     at     (b)     of     (c)     in     (d)     as    
    3. (a)     failed     (b)     foiled     (c)     hailed     (d)     hurled    
    4. (a)     dean     (b)     wean     (c)     been     (d)     keen    
    5. (a)     microscopes     (b)     telescopes     (c)     horoscopes     (d)     gyroscopes    
    6. (a)     treats     (b)     treatises     (c)     treaties     (d)     trestles    
    7. (a)     integrity     (b)     integral     (c)     integer     (d)     integrate    
    8. (a)     aversions     (b)     versions     (c)     diversions     (d)     inversions    
    9. (a)     been     (b)     beginning     (c)     being     (d)     beginnings    
    10. (a)     on     (b)     in     (c)     of     (d)     by    
    11. (a)     definition     (b)     definitely     (c)     definitive     (d)     define    
    12. (a)     decals     (b)     decimal     (c)     decimalize     (d)     decimals

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. a rmhceant named Giovanni Bianchini
    2. Bianchini was a keen stoaonrmer
    3. He also provided Venetians with orshocopes
    4. based on taolgosiracl calculations
    5. the iamngelnt of stars and planets
    6. in one of Bianchini's ratiteses

    Paragraph 2

    1. such an etignarl part of life
    2. decimals have sxiteed for over 1,000 years
    3. influenced by ahcolssr
    4. key in fingrog many mathematical concepts
    5. Other historical cvneieed
    6. the earliest known inifeetidv use

    Put the text back together

    (..1..)  A new discovery has excited mathematicians around the globe. Recently-unearthed
    (...)  China in the 1200s. Before the recent discovery, the earliest known definitive use of the decimal point was in
    (...)  1593. Then, German mathematician Christopher Clavius used a system of decimals in his study of astronomy.
    (...)  of the mathematical dot being used in the Islamic world in the 900s. It is likely that Bianchini travelled
    (...)  notations about his observances of the heavens. He also provided Venetians with horoscopes based
    (...)  to the Middle East and was influenced by scholars there who were key in forging many mathematical
    (...)  Dr Glen Van Brummelen noticed the use of a decimal point in one of Bianchini's treatises between 1441 and 1450.
    (...)  lived in Venice in the 1440s. Historians have hailed the find as being significant, as it means the decimal point is
    (...)  for thousands of years. Historians say some versions of decimals have existed for over 1,000 years. Records show a form
    (...)  150 years older than was previously thought. Bianchini was a keen astronomer. He made many
    (...)  on astrological calculations of the alignment of stars and planets. Mathematician
    (...)  concepts. Other historical evidence shows intellectuals using a form of the point in
    (...)  Decimal points are such an integral part of life today that it seems they would have been used
    (...)  documents show a decimal point in the records of a merchant named Giovanni Bianchini, who

    Put the words in the right order

    1. the   around   discovery   A   excited   mathematicians   has   globe   .
    2. decimal   the   point   a   in   Documents   show   records   .
    3. significant   .   find   Historians   being   have   as   hailed   the
    4. many   observances   .   about   notations   He   his   made
    5. alignment  .  on   based   Horoscopes   astrological  calculations   the  of
    6. integral   of   Decimals   such   an   life   .   part   are
    7. Decimals   over   1,000   for   have   existed   years   .
    8. world   Islamic   the   900s   .   in   in   Used   the
    9. key   who   Scholars   in   mathematical   concepts   .   were   forging
    10. decimal   .   The   use   definitive   earliest   the   of   known

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    A new discovery / discover has excited mathematicians around the globe. Recently-unearthed documents show a decimal point in the recording / records of a merchant named Giovanni Bianchini, who lived in Venice on / in the 1440s. Historians have failed / hailed the find as being significant, as it means the decimal point is 150 years older than was previously / previous thought. Bianchini was a keen astronomist / astronomer. He made many notations about his observances off / of the heavens. He also provided Venetians with horoscopes based on / at astrological calculations of the alignment of stars and planets. Mathematician Dr Glen Van Brummelen noticed the use of a decimal point in one of Bianchini's treats / treatises from between 1441 and / to 1450.

    Decimal points are such an integrity / integral part of life today that it seems / seemingly they would have been used for thousands of years. Historians say some versions / visions of decimals have existed for above / over 1,000 years. Records show a form of the mathematical dot being / been used in the Islamic world in the 900s. It is likely / likeable that Bianchini travelled to the Middle East and was influenced by scholars there who were quay / key in forging many mathematical concepts. Other historically / historical evidence shows intellectuals using a form of the point in China in the 1200s. Before the recent discovery, the earliest known definition / definitive use of the decimal point was in 1593. Then, German mathematician Christopher Clavius used a system / systemic of decimals in his study of astronomy.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    _  n_w  d_sc_v_ry  h_s  _xc_t_d  m_th_m_t_c__ns  _r__nd  th_  gl_b_.  R_c_ntly-_n__rth_d  d_c_m_nts  sh_w  _  d_c_m_l  p__nt  _n  th_  r_c_rds  _f  _  m_rch_nt  n_m_d  G__v_nn_  B__nch_n_,  wh_  l_v_d  _n  V_n_c_  _n  th_  1440s.  H_st_r__ns  h_v_  h__l_d  th_  f_nd  _s  b__ng  s_gn_f_c_nt,  _s  _t  m__ns  th_  d_c_m_l  p__nt  _s  150  y__rs  _ld_r  th_n  w_s  pr_v___sly  th__ght.  B__nch_n_  w_s  _  k__n  _str_n_m_r.  H_  m_d_  m_ny  n_t_t__ns  _b__t  h_s  _bs_rv_nc_s  _f  th_  h__v_ns.  H_  _ls_  pr_v_d_d  V_n_t__ns  w_th  h_r_sc_p_s  b_s_d  _n  _str_l_g_c_l  c_lc_l_t__ns  _f  th_  _l_gnm_nt  _f  st_rs  _nd  pl_n_ts.  M_th_m_t_c__n  Dr  Gl_n  V_n  Br_mm_l_n  n_t_c_d  th_  _s_  _f  _  d_c_m_l  p__nt  _n  _n_  _f  B__nch_n_'s  tr__t_s_s  b_tw__n  1441  _nd  1450.

    D_c_m_l  p__nts  _r_  s_ch  _n  _nt_gr_l  p_rt  _f  l_f_  t_d_y  th_t  _t  s__ms  th_y  w__ld  h_v_  b__n  _s_d  f_r  th__s_nds  _f  y__rs.  H_st_r__ns  s_y  s_m_  v_rs__ns  _f  d_c_m_ls  h_v_  _x_st_d  f_r  _v_r  1,000  y__rs.  R_c_rds  sh_w  _  f_rm  _f  th_  m_th_m_t_c_l  d_t  b__ng  _s_d  _n  th_  _sl_m_c  w_rld  _n  th_  900s.  _t  _s  l_k_ly  th_t  B__nch_n_  tr_v_ll_d  t_  th_  M_ddl_  __st  _nd  w_s  _nfl__nc_d  by  sch_l_rs  th_r_  wh_  w_r_  k_y  _n  f_rg_ng  m_ny  m_th_m_t_c_l  c_nc_pts.  _th_r  h_st_r_c_l  _v_d_nc_  sh_ws  _nt_ll_ct__ls  _s_ng  _  f_rm  _f  th_  p__nt  _n  Ch_n_  _n  th_  1200s.  B_f_r_  th_  r_c_nt  d_sc_v_ry,  th_  __rl__st  kn_wn  d_f_n_t_v_  _s_  _f  th_  d_c_m_l  p__nt  w_s  _n  1593.  Th_n,  G_rm_n  m_th_m_t_c__n  Chr_st_ph_r  Cl_v__s  _s_d  _  syst_m  _f  d_c_m_ls  _n  h_s  st_dy  _f  _str_n_my.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    a new discovery has excited mathematicians around the globe recentlyunearthed documents show a decimal point in the records of a merchant named giovanni bianchini who lived in venice in the 1440s historians have hailed the find as being significant as it means the decimal point is 150 years older than was previously thought bianchini was a keen astronomer he made many notations about his observances of the heavens he also provided venetians with horoscopes based on astrological calculations of the alignment of stars and planets mathematician dr glen van brummelen noticed the use of a decimal point in one of bianchinis treatises between 1441 and 1450

    decimal points are such an integral part of life today that it seems they would have been used for thousands of years historians say some versions of decimals have existed for over 1000 years records show a form of the mathematical dot being used in the islamic world in the 900s it is likely that bianchini travelled to the middle east and was influenced by scholars there who were key in forging many mathematical concepts other historical evidence shows intellectuals using a form of the point in china in the 1200s before the recent discovery the earliest known definitive use of the decimal point was in 1593 then german mathematician christopher clavius used a system of decimals in his study of astronomy

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Anewdiscoveryhasexcitedmathematiciansaroundtheglobe.Recently
    -uneartheddocumentsshowadecimalpointintherecordsofamerchant
    namedGiovanniBianchini,wholivedinVeniceinthe1440s.Historiansh
    avehailedthefindasbeingsignificant,asitmeansthedecimalpointis15
    0yearsolderthanwaspreviouslythought.Bianchiniwasakeenastrono
    mer.Hemademanynotationsabouthisobservancesoftheheavens.He
    alsoprovidedVenetianswithhoroscopesbasedonastrologicalcalculati
    onsofthealignmentofstarsandplanets.MathematicianDrGlenVanBru
    mmelennoticedtheuseofadecimalpointinoneofBianchini'streatisesb
    etween1441and1450.Decimalpointsaresuchanintegralpartoflifetod
    aythatitseemstheywouldhavebeenusedforthousandsofyears.Histori
    anssaysomeversionsofdecimalshaveexistedforover1,000years.Rec
    ordsshowaformofthemathematicaldotbeingusedintheIslamicworldi
    nthe900s.ItislikelythatBianchinitravelledtotheMiddleEastandwasinf
    luencedbyscholarstherewhowerekeyinforgingmanymathematicalco
    ncepts.Otherhistoricalevidenceshowsintellectualsusingaformofthep
    ointinChinainthe1200s.Beforetherecentdiscovery,theearliestknown
    definitiveuseofthedecimalpointwasin1593.Then,Germanmathemati
    cianChristopherClaviususedasystemofdecimalsinhisstudyofastrono
    my.

    Free writing

    Write about decimal point for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

    Academic writing

    It is important to understand the history of maths.  Discuss.

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. DECIMAL POINTS: Make a poster about decimal points. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. MATHS: Write a magazine article about all of us studying maths at a higher level. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on decimal points. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions of decimal points. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Back to the top

    Help Support This Web Site

    • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

    Sean Banville's Book

    Thank You