Selected Essays on Pre- and Early Modern Mathematical Practice
This book presents a broad selection of articles mainly published during the last two decades on a variety of topics within the history of mathematics, mostly focusing on particular aspects of mathematical practice. This book is of interest to,
- PDF / 29,710,250 Bytes
- 963 Pages / 453.544 x 683.151 pts Page_size
- 72 Downloads / 273 Views
Selected Essays on Pre- and Early Modern Mathematical Practice
Selected Essays on Pre- and Early Modern Mathematical Practice
Jens Høyrup
Selected Essays on Pre- and Early Modern Mathematical Practice
123
Jens Høyrup Section for Philosophy and Science Studies Roskilde University Roskilde, Denmark
ISBN 978-3-030-19257-0 ISBN 978-3-030-19258-7 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19258-7
(eBook)
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. This Springer imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Switzerland AG The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland
TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
v
Acknowledgements and Copyright . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
xi
Part I: Main Roads and Odd Corners Chapter 1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
Generalities (3); The two parts (3); The single articles (4); References (30) . . . . . . .
Chapter 2. Article I.1. On Parts of Parts and Ascending Continued Fractions: An Investigation of the Origins and Spread of a Peculiar System . . . . . . . . . . . .
31
Introduction (33); Islamic and post-Islamic evidence (33); Classical Antiquity and its legacy (36); Babylonia (40); Egypt (44); A scenario (50); References (55) . . . . . . . .
Chapter 3. Article I.2. A Note on Old Babylonian Computational Techniques . . .
59
Observations and conclusions (61); References (65) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 4. Article I.3. On a Collection of Geometrical Riddles and Their Role in the Shaping of Four to Six “Algebras” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
67
Opening (69); A General Characte
