Purple Math
Purplemath: Introduction to the X, Y Plane (The "Cartesian" Plane)
Purplemath offers an in-depth lesson on the Cartesian plane. The lesson discusses how to plot points and gives information about the four quadrants. Example problems are given on plotting points and determining the quadrant in which to...
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Graph of an Equation
[Free Registration/Login Required] In 1637, Rene Descartes revolutionized the study of mathematics by joining its two major fields, algebra and geometry. With Descartes's coordinate plane, geometric concepts could be formulated...
Curated OER
Science World: Descartes, Rene (1596 1650)
This biographical site on Descartes explains some of the French scientific philosopher Decartes' beliefs and findings. This site has links to other famous mathematicians who influenced him.
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Restoration and Eighteenth Century: Historical Contexts
This is an historical context for the Restoration and Eighteenth Century period in England. It provides a list of dates and titles for sections of the period and discusses the authors and characteristics of each. It provides links to "A...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Mysteries of Vernacular: X Ray
The story of the word X-Ray is one of great thinkers. French philosopher Rene Descartes isolated the letters X, Y and Z to stand for unknowns, and centuries later, Wilhelm Rontgen discovered the X-ray, using the X for the unknown nature...
University of South Florida
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Lit2 Go: History of Mathematics
Short selections from W. W. Rouse Ball's "A Short Account of the History of Mathematics," most of which are biographies that focus on the mathematician's work. The text can be read online or downloaded by individual chapters in MP3 or...
Shodor Education Foundation
Shodor Interactivate: Simple Coordinates Game
This applet allows students to practice plotting points and identifying ordered pairs on a coordinate plane. The learning resource consists of the activity, instructions, instructor notes, and additional resources.
Shodor Education Foundation
Shodor Interactivate: General Coordinates Game
This applet allows students to practice plotting points and identifying ordered pairs on a coordinate plane. The learning resource consists of the activity, instructions, instructor notes, and additional resources.
Shodor Education Foundation
Shodor Interactivate: Simple Maze Game
This applet allows students to practice plotting ordered pairs on a coordinate plane. The learning resource consists of the activity, instructions, instructor notes, and additional resources.
Ministerio de Educacion, Cultura y Deporte (Spain)
Ite: La Magia De Los Numeros
This site describes the magic of numbers through different mathematicians. Contributions of the following mathematicians: Pierre de Fermat, Pitagoras de Samos, Nicomaco de Gerasa, Diofanto de Alejandria, G. Bachet de Meziriac, Rene...
Interactive Mathematics
Interactive Mathematics: Functions and Graphs
The system created by Rene Descartes (1596-1650 CE) is explored in depth, covering topics such as definitions, notation, evaluating, domain and range, graphing and more. Interactive examples and demonstrations are enhanced using Live...
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: About Rainbows
This site from the University Corporation of Atmospheric Research provides an illustrated article about the phenomenon of rainbows.
Science Struck
Science Struck: Famous Scientists Who Believed in God
It is sometimes assumed that scientists do not believe in God but these famous scientists actually did. Read details about their lives and beliefs, and some quotes attributed to them.
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Clip Art Etc: Baruch Spinoza
He is one of the three great rationalists of 17th-century philosophy, the others being Rene Descartes and Gottfried Leibniz.
Instituto Latinoamericano de la Comunicacion Educativa
Red Escolar: Figuras Escondidas
Practice graphing by playing a game in the Cartesian coordinates plane.
Learning Wave Communications
Learning Wave: A Description of the Coordinate Plane
A quick description of the coordinate plane is a great preview for students preparing for a unit on graphing.
University of Houston
University of Houston: Lesson Plan: Famous Mathematicians
This lesson plan is aimed at 7th and 8th grade students and involves researching famous mathematicians and the import of their contributions.