A contribuição de José Fernandes Pinto Alpoim no ensino das técnicas aplicadas a geometria e a ciência no exame de bombeiros

Abstract

In this work, we make an analysis of the book "Exame de Bombeiros", by José Fernandes Pinto Alpoim (1700-1765). We discuss themes and aspects of both science and mathematics in the analysis of the book. José Fernandes Pinto Alpoim, a Portuguese Military Engineer, was responsible for several works and served in various missions in Brazil, including demarcation of colonial boundaries. He also had relevant contributions for the teaching of mathematics in Brazil. Alpoim wrote two books, the Exame de Artilheiros , in 1744, and the Exame de Bombeiros , in 1748. for use in the course of Artillery and Fortifications in Rio de Janeiro, because there was no suitable material for these courses in Portuguese. About the printing of books, respectively in Lisbon and Madrid, several speculations were raise, which we have discussed in this work. The precarious education in Brazil lead Alpoim to interesting didactic options. We seek to highlight the concern of Alpoim with systematization of Mathematics, always seeking a link between contents and practice. His approach, in the form of questions and answers, shows the concern of the teacher to make meaningful teaching of Mathematics to the students Third of Artillery of Rio de Janeiro, which is the third of a full Regiment. This course was the responsibility of Alpoim