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Lesson 1 (from Chapters 0-1)

Objective

Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea is a nonfiction book by American journalist and NYU professor Charles Seife. In the book, Seife relates the origins, history, and controversy of the number zero, and explains zero’s relationship to math and physics to the interested lay person. In this lesson, students will research author Charles Seife, and will analyze and discuss the “divide by zero” computer crash of the USS Yorktown described in Chapter 0, “Null and Void.”

Lesson

Research Activity: Conduct research on American journalist and author Charles Seife, as well as the USS Yorktown and its computer crash in 1997 described in Chapter 0, “Null and Void.” What program was the ship a test-bed for in the U.S. Navy? What caused the crash? How was the problem approached?

Group Assignment: Assign students to groups of 3-4 each. As a group, develop a presentation that details the...

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