ERIC Number: EJ831438
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Mar
Pages: 6
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0025-5769
EISSN: N/A
The Infinite Hotel
Wanko, Jeffrey J.
Mathematics Teacher, v102 n7 p498-503 Mar 2009
This article provides a historical context for the debate between Georg Cantor and Leopold Kronecker regarding the cardinality of different infinities and incorporates the short story "Welcome to the Hotel Infinity," which uses the analogy of a hotel with an infinite number of rooms to help explain this concept. Wanko makes use of this history and the short story in teaching difficult concepts about infinity. (Contains 6 figures.)
Descriptors: Statistical Distributions, Housing, Logical Thinking, Literary Genres, Teaching Methods, Mathematical Concepts, Mathematics Instruction, Elementary Education
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. 1906 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191-1502. Tel: 800-235-7566; Tel: 703-620-3702; Fax: 703-476-2970; e-mail: orders@nctm.org; Web site: http://www.nctm.org/publications/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A