IB Extended Essay topic in mathematics?

[l-1j-cho]

I tried to find an adequate one, but all of my attempts is beyond the reach of my ability as a high school student. I am interested in Number Theory, Set Theory, or Logic. Could you suggest me one?

 

[micromass]

As I'm not from america, I'm not familiar with the IB extended essay. Can it be a mathematical text, or does it need to be an essay without formula's and derivations?

Anyways, there are some great topics out there:

- an essay on the set theoretic controversy in the beginning of this century, and how it lead to an entirely different axiomatic system for mathematics. And how it lead to the conclusion that logic is indispensable in mathematics.
- Godel's incompleteness theorem: write about it's consequences and it's philosophical ramifications.
- Diophantos equations and the last theorem of Fermat.
- Infinity in mathematics

 

[l-1j-cho]

It's actually one of the requirements that a student has to fulfill in order to achieve the International Bacculeurate Diploma.
"Can it be a mathematical text, or does it need to be an essay without formula's and derivations?"
I am not sure about this. I must ask my supervisor about this.

All of your suggestions sounds really interesting to me! Cheers!
(By the way, am I competent to understand the last theorem of Fermat? apparently even some of PhD holders struggle to absorb it)

 

[micromass]

(By the way, am I competent to understand the last theorem of Fermat? apparently even some of PhD holders struggle to absorb it)

No, I guess you're not competent enough to understand the proof of the Last Theorem of Fermat But I wasn't suggesting you study Wiles' proof. I suggested that you wrote something about the history of the proof, the mathematicians that worked on it, etc.

And I actually do think you're competent enough to understand the case n=3 and n=4 of Fermat's theorem. It would take a little work though...

 

[l-1j-cho]

That's would be interesting.
Should I work at the North Pole?

 

[ZapadniyRus]

If your still interested in doing an EE in math and haven't yet found a topic...

You could do your EE on the use of math in GPS... Shouldn't be too bad. You'd be able to draw diagrams showing triangulation... explain the use of triangulation, how GPS accuracy can be improved.

Looking back on it now, I'm regretting not doing mine on this