Frank Swetz

In the picture on the left, I am examining a metal ell, length measuring rod, embedded in the wall of the town square in Litoměřice, Czech Republic. During the Middle Ages, this town was an important cloth trading market of the Holy Roman Empire. The rod was embedded in the wall by royal authorities so that customers could check the accuracy of their purchases. Discovering mathematics, its history and its uses, is a fascinating adventure. There is so much to discover and through discovery comes understanding. In my writings, I attempt to share these adventures with my readers, particularly young students who are trying so hard to understand mathematics