Developments Of Ancient Chinese Mathematics

The Sumerians created and used many mathematical concepts, and a few of them are still in use today, six

Humans possess a wide range of attributes and characteristics, of which one of the most funda- mental features is that of curiosity. This curiosity has led man to wonder, ponder and then learn. The curious nature of humans drives them to always try to find solutions to the puzzling mysteries behind their ideas and thereby ending up inventing and innovating, extending the boundaries of science and technology. Babylonians and Egyptians used arithmetic, algebra and geometry for taxation and other financial calculations, for building and construction, and for astronomy. To deal with the new dynamics that had arisen from the work of Sir Issac Newton and Galileo Galilei the creation and development of calculus was required. All of them made use of the fundamental tools and items at their disposal to achieve this, but would not have been successful without the one crucial tool - knowledge of mathematics. Mathematics is a language - the language of science and it comes as no surprise that mathematics is vitally important when explaining any phenomenon or scientific theory or proving scientific laws.

Among the many scholars working in the House of Wisdom, there was Al-Khawarizmi, known as the father of algebra. Born around 800 in Baghdad, al-Khwarizmi worked in the House of Wisdom as a scholar. Being involved in the center’s translation of ancient scientific knowledge helped him develop a unique knowledge of the accumulated wisdom of the world. His importance lies in his discoveries of mathematical knowledge which was later transferred to Arab and European scholars. His masterpiece, a book of clear explanations of what would become algebra, was his entire life’s work compiled into one collection of information. The word algebra comes from the Arabic word, al-jabr, which means “completion”. In his work, al-Khwarizmi explains the principles of solving linear and quadratic equations, the concept that an equation can be created to find the value of an unknown variable. Another crucial work of al-Khwarizmi’s was The Book on the Art of Reckoning of the Hindus, which introduced the numbering system used in the Islamic culture to the west. This is the numerical system that is still used today and offered many advantages over the existing Roman numerals. An

Another thing to recognize when mentioning ancient China’s contributions to geometry is “The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art.” It first appeared around 179 AD on a bronze statue description but it didn’t grow much attention until Liu Hui, another mathematician, mentions it many centuries later down the road. Within the book’s contents held mathematical problems that geometry was applied to. It also held other important information such as finding surface areas for squares and circles, the volumes of solids in various three-dimensional shapes, and included the use of the Pythagorean

According to document 4, Al-Khwarizmi, a Muslim mathematician wrote a textbook in the 800’s about algebra which was later adopted throughout Europe. Muslim mathematicians also adopted Arabic numerals from Indians and used them in place-value system. (Doc. 4) These mathematical advances also led to the creation of simple yet complicated structures. Also, after using their observations and their understanding of mathematics, Muslim scholars were able to make an advancement in mapmaking. They used astrolabe and armillary sphere to help study skies and make calculations for calendars and maps. (Doc.

There were many ancient civilizations that were unique in their own way in the Ancient world. In ancient China and Egypt, the customs of funerary practices were extremely strict. In ancient China and Mesopotamia, the food was very different. Religion for the ancient Chinese people and Aztec people were especially sacrificial.

Muhammad Ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī developed algebra and algorithms. Spherical trigonometry and the “addition of the decimal point notation to the Arabic numerals” (Islamic Golden Age) were introduced by the Muslim mathematician Sind Ibn Ali. Al-Kindi introduced cryptanalysis, frequency analysis, algebraic calculus, and proof by mathematical induction. Ibn al-Haytham developed “analytic geometry and the earliest general formula for infinitesimal and integral calculus” (Islamic Golden Age). Symbolic algebra which is used today in computer sciences was developed by Abū al-Hasan Ibn Alī al-Qalasādī. “Arabs picked up two concepts essential to the evolution of mathematics: the place value digit and zero. Both of these were vital to being able to do much more complex calculations than the old system of using letters to represent numbers” (Butler). Although Muslims made many technological, medical, as well as other advancements, they also endured a great amount of

In the early years of China, the Chinese began a period of establishment in the world with ideas and teachings of new religions, changing powers, and building empires. In a nutshell the Chinese were progressing toward new technology, writings, and belief systems. The Chinese saw many dynasties come and go as well as many ups and downs experienced with societies over the course of history. As all nation’s go through change, the Chinese experienced changes from other lands far away and produced many concepts in which helped other realms to see change for themselves. The Chinese used many inventive innovations to prosper as an economic power and stabilize intellectually. Change mixed with innovation proved to be the roots of China’s

These achievements made it possible for new theorems, equations, and notations. The Guptas also developed a numeral system. A mathematician also discovered the formula to find the area of a triangle. Advancements in literature was the increase of narratives.

The Abbasid Empire made plenty of mathematical and astronomy accomplishments during the Golden Age of the West. Omar Khayyam made an Accurate Calendar. He is also a great mathematician. Al- Khwarizmi was also a great

“Now, I, Vairocana Buddha am sitting atop a lotus pedestal; On a thousand flowers surrounding me are a thousand Sakyamuni Buddhas. Each flower supports a hundred million worlds; in each world a Sakyamuni Buddha appears. All are seated beneath a Bodhi-tree, all simultaneously attain Buddhahood. All these innumerable Buddhas have Vairocana as their original body.” (passage from the Brahmajala Sutra)

The Protogeometric and Geometric periods are good examples of such advanced thinking. The beginnings of the Protogeometric period display a distinct interest in mathematical order. During this period, artists decorated vases with circles and symmetrical patterns. As the dominant style changed from Protogeometric to Geometric, this order and precision was amplified. The popular ?circle and semicircle patterns were replaced by linear designs, zigzags, triangles, diamonds, and meanders? (Cunningham, 40). The increased interest in order seems to have been a reflection of the Greek fascination with nature, and man?s relationship to nature.

The mathematics had been developed for four thousand years, and Muslim inherited mathematics from Egyptian, Mesopotamians, Sumerian and Babylonian. Greek geometry and Hindu arithmetic and algebra reached at an early stage in Muslim lands and were translated in centers such as Gondeshapur and Baghdad. Starting out at intellectual center of Islam, they soon criticizing those concepts and formulation by finding inaccurate and inconsistent information and adapt their own ideas. At the same period in Western Europe, they still use Roman numerals and abacus to calculate numbers. The Babylonian already had concept of bases sixty computation with place value numerals. Muslim then developed a decimal arithmetic based on place value and joint concept of zero. In the ninth century, Banu Musa brothers who were three gifted sons of Musa, Muhammad, Ahmad, and Hassan ibn Musa lived in Baghdad studied problems in constructing interrelated geometrical figures. Later the characteristic of those line, space of geometrical shape was given intense study and utilized sophisticated geometry in designing waterwheels, in improving farming equipment, in developing new type of weapon used at war. Another person who make significant contribution on mathematics is Muhammad ibn al-Khwarizmi, a Persian born in the eighth century. He was the first person who originated both terms “algebra”, and

Omar was also a poet, philosopher, and astronomer. Omar’s works were translated in 1851, which was research on Euclid’s axioms. In the medieval period, he expanded on Khwarizmi’s and the Greeks mathematic works. He only worked with cubic equations only and focused on geometric and algebraic solutions of equations. In 1145AD, Al-Khwarizmi’s book was translated by Robert Chester, which made it possible for algebra to be introduced to Europe. After algebra was introduced in Europe, European mathematicians developed and expanded on algebra concepts. Even though algebra began in the Arabic countries, once European mathematicians obtained the information of algebra, they became the leaders of mathematical discoveries in the world (“Mathematics”).

Mathematics has contributed to the alteration of technology over many years. The most noticeable mathematical technology is the evolution of the abacus to the many variations of the calculator. Some people argue that the changes in technology have been for the better while others argue they have been for the worse. While this paper does not address specifically technology, this paper rather addresses influential persons in philosophy to the field of mathematics. In order to understand the impact of mathematics, this paper will delve into the three philosophers of the past who have contributed to this academic. In this paper, I will cover the views of three philosophers of mathematics encompassing their