In this examination of the Babylonian cuneiform "algebra" texts, based
on a detailed investigation of the terminology and discursive
organization of the texts, Jens Høyrup proposes that the traditional
interpretation must be rejected. The texts turn out to speak not of
pure numbers, but of the dimensions and areas of rectangles and other
measurable geometrical magnitudes, often serving as representatives of
other magnitudes (prices, workdays, etc...), much as pure numbers
represent concrete magnitudes in modern applied algebra. Moreover, the
geometrical procedures are seen to be reasoned to the same extent as
the solutions of modern equation algebra, though not built on any
explicit deductive structure.
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A Portrait of Old Babylonian Algebra and Its Kin
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9781475736854
Publisert
2020
Utgiver
Vendor
Springer
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter