Theory of polygonal numbers with Cuisenaire rods manipulatives: Understanding Theon of Smyrna’s arithmetic in a history of mathematics classroom

Abstract

This classroom note offers an interactive method of visualizing polygonal numbers in accordance with Theon of Smyrna's arithmetic in a history of mathematics classroom in a university in the US. In a multi-representational context that focused on students’ exploration of polygonal numbers for in an inductive style, the article also provides a method of using history in the classroom via Cuisenaire rods manipulatives.