History Of Math Essays - Elementary Arithmetic,

History Of Math Mathematics, study of relationships among quantities, magnitudes, and properties and of logical operations by which unknown quantities, magnitudes, and properties may be deduced. In the past, mathematics was regarded as the science of quantity, whether of magnitudes, as in geometry, or of numbers, as in arithmetic, or of the generalization of these two fields, as in algebra. Toward the middle of the 19th century, however, mathematics came to be regarded increasingly as the science of relations, or as the science that draws necessary conclusions. This latter view encompasses mathematical or symbolic logic, the science of using symbols to provide an exact theory of logical deduction and inference based on definitions, axioms, postulates, and rules for combining and transforming primitive elements into more complex relations and theorems. This brief survey of the history of mathematics traces the evolution of mathematical ideas and concepts, beginning in prehistory. Indeed, mathematics is nearly as old as humanity itself; evidence of a sense of geometry and interest in geometric pattern has been found in the designs of prehistoric pottery and textiles and in cave paintings. Primitive counting systems were almost certainly based on using the fingers of one or both hands, as evidenced by the predominance of the numbers 5 and 10 as the bases for most number systems today. Ancient Mathematics The earliest records of advanced, organized mathematics date back to the ancient Mesopotamian country of Babylonia and to Egypt of the 3rd millennium BC. There mathematics was dominated by arithmetic, with an emphasis on measurement and calculation in geometry and with no trace of later mathematical concepts such as axioms or proofs. The earliest Egyptian texts, composed about 1800 BC, reveal a decimal numeration system with separate symbols for the successive powers of 10 (1, 10, 100, and so forth), just as in the system used by the Romans. Numbers were represented by writing down the symbol for 1, 10, 100, and so on as many times as the unit was in a given number. For example, the symbol for 1 was written five times to represent the number 5, the symbol for 10 was written six times to represent the number 60, and the symbol for 100 was written three times to represent the number 300. Together, these symbols represented the number 365. Addition was done by totaling separately the units-10s, 100s, and so forth-in the numbers to be added. Multiplication was based on successive doublings, and division was based on the inverse of this process. The Egyptians used sums of unit fractions (a), supplemented by the fraction B, to express all other fractions. For example, the fraction E was the sum of the fractions 3 and *. Using this system, the Egyptians were able to solve all problems of arithmetic that involved fractions, as well as some elementary problems in algebra. In geometry, the Egyptians calculated the correct areas of triangles, rectangles, and trapezoids and the volumes of figures such as bricks, cylinders, and pyramids. To find the area of a circle, the Egyptians used the square on U of the diameter of the circle, a value of about 3.16-close to the value of the ratio known as pi, which is about 3.14. The Babylonian system of numeration was quite different from the Egyptian system. In the Babylonian system-which, when using clay tablets, consisted of various wedge-shaped marks-a single wedge indicated 1 and an arrowlike wedge stood for 10 (see table). Numbers up through 59 were formed from these symbols through an additive process, as in Egyptian mathematics. The number 60, however, was represented by the same symbol as 1, and from this point on a positional symbol was used. That is, the value of one of the first 59 numerals depended henceforth on its position in the total numeral. For example, a numeral consisting of a symbol for 2 followed by one for 27 and ending in one for 10 stood for 2 ? 602 + 27 ? 60 + 10. This principle was extended to the representation of fractions as well, so that the above sequence of numbers could equally well represent 2 ? 60 + 27 + 10 ? (), or 2 + 27 ? () + 10 ? (-2). With this

Islamic Civil War - Battle of Siffin

Islamic Civil War - Battle of Siffin Introduction Conflict: The Battle of Siffin was part of the First Fitna (Islamic Civil War) which lasted from 656–661.   The First Fitna was a civil war in the early Islamic State caused by the murder of Caliph Uthman ibn Affan in 656 by Egyptian rebels.             Dates: Beginning on July 26, 657, the Battle of Siffin lasted three days, ending on the 28th. Commanders Armies: Forces of Muawiyah I Muawiyah IAmr ibn al-Aasapproximately 120,000 men Forces of Ali ibn Abi Talib Ali ibn Abi TalibMalik ibn Ashterapproximately 90,000 men Battle of Siffin - Background: Following the murder of Caliph Uthman ibn Affan, the caliphate of the Muslim Empire passed to the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad, Ali ibn Abi Talib. Shortly after ascending to the caliphate, Ali commenced consolidating his hold over the empire. Among those who opposed him was the governor of Syria, Muawiyah I. A kinsman of the slain Uthman, Muawiyah refused to acknowledge Ali as caliph due his inability to bring the murders to justice. In an attempt to avoid bloodshed, Ali sent an envoy, Jarir, to Syria to seek a peaceful solution. Jarir reported that Muawiyah would submit when the murderers were caught. Battle of Siffin - Muawiyah Seeks Justice: With the blood-stained shirt of Uthman hanging in the Damascus mosque, Muawiyahs large army marched out to meet Ali, pledging not to sleep at home until the murderers were found.   After first planning to invade Syria from the north Ali instead elected to move directly across the Mesopotamian desert.   Crossing the Euphrates River at Riqqa, his army moved along its banks into Syria and first spotted his opponents army near the plain of Siffin. After a small battle over Alis right to take water from the river, the two sides pursued a final attempt at negotiation as both wished to avoid a major engagement. After 110 days of talks, they were still at an impasse. On July 26, 657, with the talks over, Ali and his general, Malik ibn Ashter, began a massive attack on Muawiyahs lines. Battle of Siffin - A Bloody Stalemate: Ali personally led his Medinan troops, while Muawiyah watched from a pavilion, preferring to let his general Amr ibn al-Aas, direct the battle. At one point, Amr ibn al-Aas shattered part of the enemy line and nearly broke through far enough to kill Ali. This was countered by a massive attack, led by Malik ibn Ashter, which nearly forced Muawiyah to flee the field and badly reduced his personal bodyguard. The fighting continued for three days with neither side gaining an advantage, though Alis forces were inflicting a larger number of casualties. Concerned that he might lose, Muawiyah offered to settle their differences through arbitration. Battle of Siffin - Aftermath: The three days of fighting had cost Muawiyahs army approximately 45,000 casualties to 25,000 for Ali ibn Abi Talib. On the battlefield, the arbitrators decided that both leaders were equals and the two sides withdrew to Damascus and Kufa. When the arbitrators met again in February 658, no resolution was achieved. In 661, following the assassination of Ali, Muawiyah ascended to the caliphate, reuniting the Muslim Empire.   Crowned in Jerusalem, Muawiyah established the Umayyad caliphate, and began working to expand the state.   Successful in these endeavors, he reigned until his death in 680.

Evidence based paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Evidence based paper - Essay Example This is an even greater challenge for new nurses who are not yet familiar with the physicians’ handwritings, making them more prone to mistakes. Computers should replace handwritten prescriptions. Doctor’s orders and prescriptions should be given through a computer so that they will be more understandable. This can reduce confusion and mistakes, making the delivery of healthcare faster and more efficient. It can also serve as a better way of keeping track of doctor’s orders since computers make it easier to compile data and save them to a hard drive as opposed to keeping the orders in a clipboard or a folder. Computers can be more beneficial than just reducing mistakes. There are many advantages to using computers in giving orders and prescriptions. Computer-inputted orders and prescriptions are clear and easy to understand; the files can be saved more securely than a physical copy; the files can be shared easily between departments. For example, when a doctor orders a new drug to a patient, once it is noted on the computer, the nurse can forward the new drug orders to the pharmacy so that they can provide the new drug immediately. Documentation becomes easier due to computers, freeing up more time for the nurses to take care of patients. This new speed and efficiency from being able to understand and manage prescriptions better translates into better patient care that can make a difference for the patient’s health and can prevent many accidents involving medication errors from happening. The downside to computers would be cost and reliability. The cost to place a computer and to maintain it in every area of the hospital is significant, and it would also need a powerful backup power supply in case power runs out, which could cripple the whole care process since the computers, with all the patients’ data, cannot be accessed. The ultimate goal of digitizing prescriptions is the

The Human Experience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Human Experience - Essay Example ed my life around upon the realization that in life, anyone can be made vulnerable to a disease and be confined to the misery of excruciating thoughts and feelings of insecurity besides physical pain. Having surpassed cancer and being occasionally ill to this point has been such a humbling experience that it teaches me the way to joyful living despite the fact that humans possess only fleeting moments of existence on earth. With this physiological conflict, I learn to view things in a different light and gain a more positive insight behind the principle of ‘carpe diem’ or seizing each passing day as if it were the last, for the essence of living occurs to be living in full measure and this is the reason I feel alive with enthusiasm as I venture to proceed with my studies in a manner of learning via creative rather than conventional approach. Equivalently, my tough encounters with sickness and slow recovery at some point has all the more inspired me to spend ample time with my family, close friends, church service, and the civil air patrol whenever I can. Looking into the painting with analytical intent, one would observe that Alexander the Great quite reflects a figure of radiance instead of gloom, signifying that his monumental courage does not merely apply to fierce situations of combat among men fighting over territories and conquests to be won. The sight of Alexander in the marvelous craft of Siemiradzki is one that enables me to imagine bravery from within or that which depends not on the type of battle and what I have become out of illness I suppose resembles much of the heroic scenario in which Alexander appears far from ceasing to be great that he even manages to extend his confidence to the attending doctor at the time notwithstanding the dreadful case of his infectious disease. His aura in the masterpiece, to me, is symbolic of determination or fervent willfulness to live and conquer with which I could figure a relevant connection of personally

A Study Of HIV And Aids Health Essay

A Study Of HIV And Aids Health Essay HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is the virus that causes AIDS. HIV is not like other viruses and different from other, the reason is it attacks the immune system. HIV discovers and destroys a form of white blood cell, T-cells or CD4 cells, which the immune system must have to fight diseases. AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome and it is the final phase of HIV infection. Possibly, it can take many years to a person get infected from this disease called HIV to get at this stage. With the problem of AIDS refers to that the virus has damaged the immune system to the point at which the human body has a tough time fighting with infections. When some person has one or more than one particular infections, specific cancers or a very low number of T-cells, the person is regarded as a patient of AIDS. HIV transmission can take place when blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, vaginal fluid, or breast milk from an infected individual comes into the body of an uninfected individual. HIV can come in the body all through a vein, the lining of the anus or rectum, the lining of the vagina, the opening to the penis, the mouth, the eyes, the nose, or cuts and slashes. The most ordinary methods that HIV is transmitted from one individual to another individual is be having sex (anal, vaginal or oral) with an HIV infected individual, or by sharing an infected needles with an HIV, or from if mother is infected from HIV, than the baby also gets infected during birth or through breastfeeding after birth. HIV can also be passed on through receipt of infected blood. Though, from the year 1985, all donated blood in the United States must be tested for HIV. So, the chances of infection all through transfusion of blood or products related to blood is extremely low down. Some healthcare workers have become infected after being stuck with needles containing HIV-infected blood or when infected blood comes in contact with a workers open cut or is splashed into a workers eyes or inside their nose. There has been only one instance of a patient being infected by an HIV-infected dentist to his patient. HIV attacks the immune system. The immune system is a group of cells and organs that protect your body by fighting disease. The human immune system usually finds and kills viruses fairly quickly. However, different viruses attack different parts of the body. HIV attacks a special type of immune system cell known as a CD4 lymphocyte. HIV has many ways of evading the bodys defenses including the ability to rapidly mutate. This means that once HIV has taken hold, the immune system can never fully get rid of it. In the situation, if left is not treated, then HIV will ultimately weaken the immune system to the extent that an individual will become sick with different types of infections, known as opportunistic infections. AIDS defining illness are considered to be as most serious opportunistic infections. When an individual becomes sick with one of the AIDS defining illness, he is said to have AIDS. There isnt any way to tell just by looking if someones been infected by HIV. In fact, a person infected with HIV may look and feel perfectly well for many years and may not know that they are infected. However, as the persons immune system weakens, they become increasingly vulnerable to illnesses. The only reliable way to tell whether someone has HIV is for them to take a simple blood test, which can detect infection within just a few weeks after the virus enters the body. The most important type of treatment for HIV or AIDS is known as antiretroviral treatment. This treatment comprises of drugs that should be taken every single day for the remaining life. The main motive of antiretroviral treatment is to remain the proportion of HIV in the human body at very low level. This also discontinues weakening of the immune system and permits the immune system to get better from any damage that HIV possibly has caused by now. If an individual is taking two or more than two antiretroviral drugs at the same time, that is called combination therapy. By taking a combination of three or more anti-HIV drugs is a little referred to as HAART. HAART stands for Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy. Luckily, there are more than 20 approved antiretroviral drugs accessible and unluckily, there is no list licensed or available in each and every country. Initially, the combination of drugs that an individual is given is called first-line therapy. If after some time, HIV becomes opposed to this combination or if there will be any side effects, a move to second line therapy is suggested. Second line therapy consists of at least of three new drugs so as to increase success. Apart from this, there are many other things through which you can decrease the risk of catching HIV or passing it along to someone else. The simplest is to withdraw or abstain from sex like so not have oral, anal or vaginal. Until, you should have love or relationship with only one person or having sex with only each other and both of you should be familiar with each others HIV status. If any of you have HIV, use protection like condoms to avoid other sexually transmitted diseases and likely infections with a different damage of HIV. If only one of you has HIV, use a latex condom and lubricant every time you have sex. If you have, or plan to have, more than one sex partner, get tested for HIV. If you are a man who has had sex with other men, get tested at least once a year. If you are a woman who is planning to get pregnant or who is pregnant, get tested as soon as possible before you have your baby. Talk about HIV and other STDs with each partner before you have sex. Learn as much as you can about each partners past behavior, including sex and drug use, and consider the risks to your health before you have sex. Ask your partners if they have recently been tested for HIV, and encourage those who have not been tested to do so. Use a latex condom and lubricant every time you have sex. If you think you may have been exposed to another STD, such as gonorrhea, syphilis, or Chlamydia, get treatment. These STDs can increase your risk of getting HIV. Get vaccinated against the hepatitis B virus. Even if you think you ha ve a low risk for HIV infection, get tested whenever you have a regular medical check-up. Do not inject illicit drugs. You can get HIV through needles, syringes, and other paraphernalia if they are contaminated with the blood of someone who has HIV. Drugs also cloud your judgment, which may result in riskier sex. If you do inject drugs, use only clean needles and syringes, and never share needles or syringes. Be careful not to expose yourself to another persons blood. Get tested for HIV at least once a year. Also, consider getting counseling and treatment for your drug use, and get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B. Fortunately, there are numerous organizations that assist HIV/AIDS victims and are constantly working to find a cure. One of these organizations is the Global AIDS Alliance (GAA). The goal of the GAA is to stop the global AIDS crisis and to limit the impact it has on poor countries that are hit hardest by the epidemic. The GAA was founded in 2001 and plays a critical role in shaping the AIDS policy debate and campaigns to speed the global response to HIV/AIDS. In just a few years, the GAA has achieved considerable success in increasing funding and influencing AIDS policy. In the future, the GAA plans to achieve universal access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care by 2010. Works Cited AIDS/HIV. About.com. Jan. 2009. 11 Jan. 2009 . Global Aids Alliance. 2008. 11 Jan. 2009 . HIV/AIDS. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Jan. 2009. Department of Health and Human Services. 11 Jan. 2009 . Mulvihill, M. L., M. Zelman, P. Holdaway, E. Tompary, and J. Raymond. Instructors Resource Manual: Human Diseases: A Systemic Approach. 6th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006. What is Aids? Avert: Averting HIV and AIDS. Dec. 2008. 11 Jan. 2009 .

Christianity, Islam and Terrorism :: Threats To World Peace

The ongoing conflicts in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries of the Middle East and Africa have influenced American public opinion against Muslims. There is a fundamental misconception of what exactly Islam sanctions, encourages, and allows. The tenets of the Islamic faith are, of course, different than those of Christianity, which prevails in America today. However, the two faiths share much in common and there is no rational reason to view Islam as an â€Å"extremist† faith, any more than Christianity should be viewed that way. How do Christianity and Islam differ, and how are they similar? What common ground can be reached between two cultures that clash so violently? While Islam and Christianity are unique and differ in many ways, the two faiths share similar features, that when analyzed rationally, can unite the two cultures under the banner of understanding. The faith of Islam centers itself in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, just as Christianity does. Old Testament stories appear in the holy book of Islam, the Qur’an, as well as New Testament events. Islam does not dispute the veracity of the Bible, merely adds to it. As a matter of fact, Islam itself claims Old Testament roots. In the Old Testament story of Abraham, Sara, and Hagar, Abraham has two sons – Isma’il (Ishmael) and Isaac. Muslims claim the line of Isma’il as their ancestor, and the Qur’an states, â€Å"We shall worship Thy Allah and the Allah of thy fathers, of Abraham, Isma'il and Isaac, - the one (True) Allah. To Him we bow (in Islam)." 1 â€Å"Father Abraham† is held in high regard in the faith of Islam. It is written in the Holy Qur’an, â€Å"Also mention in the Book (the story of) Abraham: He was a man of Truth, a prophet.†2 Jesus is also frequently mentioned in the Qur’an, not as the son of God, but as a prophet. The miracles He performed are acknowledged as divine acts of God that occurred through him, and it is also acknowledged that he was subject to disbelief at the time. According to the Qur’an, God (or Allah) says to Jesus, â€Å""O Jesus the son of Mary! Recount My favour to thee and to thy mother. Behold! I strengthened thee with the Holy Spirit, so that thou didst speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. Behold! I taught thee the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel and behold! thou makest out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by My leave, and thou breathest into it and it becometh a bird by My leave, and thou healest those born blind, and the lepers, by My leave.

Organisation design

estructuring is rife once again in our organizations. Is all this really necessary or are we Just getting it very wrong? Do we keep designing in the traditional and two dimensional way we have always designed our organizations in? Let us rethink why we would restructure in the first place and how we would do it in a way that is more sustainable and less disruptive to the organization. Let's start with some simple ideas and principles. Include organization design as part of your strategic planning process. When your business model or value chain changes, your overall structure needs to change with it.For other times, accountabilities and roles need to continually evolve. Create broad roles that can evolve, not tightly defined Jobs. Remember we frequently encounter problems beyond our Job descriptions and we need to develop people so they can be redeployed. When you restructure, change the way the work is done or there will be no change. Functions focused on effectiveness cannot report to functions focused on efficiency Functions focused on long-range development cannot report to functions focused on short-range results Having the wrong people in the wrong roles will continue to make the structure ineffective.Understand that there will always be paradoxes in the system like centralization AND decentralization and learn to manage it through behavior rather than structure. No amount of restructuring can make up for leadership and culture failures. Restructures often don't change power structures. People like creating extra layers to serve their own agendas. Do not allow it if the business model and value chain does not require it. Let's improve how we do things using 4 fundamentals. 1 .Job families based on the value chain – broken down into core and support The first step is to design value chain based Job families – a Job family is a cluster of roles that have a lot in common as far as competencies and outputs are concerned. Identify the core functi ons that must be performed in support of the business strategy. Define what each function will have authority and be accountable for. Once his is clear, support Job families can be defined. Examples are Finance, Human Resources and Operations. Support should never be greater than core. . Levels of work Now define the right number of levels. The starting point, says Jacques, is â€Å"to get the right structure, including the right number of vertical layers, and well-defined accountability and authority not only in manager-subordinate working relationships, but in cross-functional working relationships as well† Oases, â€Å"The Aims of Requisite Organization,† in Requisite Organization). All roles in a level have a similar approach to work, and a similar level of complexity, regardless of the business unit or Job family they fall into.This paves the way for clear goal alignment. You should not have more than 5-6 levels of work in total for example Operational employees, First line leaders, Expert leaders, Executive Leaders and Strategic leader(s). 3. Systems thinking to get governance and matrix structures right Now make sure you put the governance , organization support and matrix structures over it that can manage the accountabilities and risk appetites of your functions and ensure you understand where to place resources between core and support and between central and decentralized functions. . Generic roles, not people And very importantly†¦ When creating the structure, ignore the people involved and just identify the core and support business functions that must be performed. Create generic roles that are not person dependent and can evolve. Have similarities in role design across levels and in Job families and only define the unique bits differently. This makes it much easier to redeploy people instead of making them redundant whilst growing other parts of the business.The ensuing picture looks like this: If we evolve the picture further to incorporate the matrix and governance designs the final design will look something like a three dimensional matrix using the Biometric design developed by DRP. Elisabeth Dossal: If you need help in developing a sustainable well-designed organization structure, please contact me on [email  protected] Com.