Lengths, Widths, Surfaces A Portrait of Old Babylonian Algebra and Its Kin
-87%
Availability: In Stock

Lengths, Widths, Surfaces A Portrait of Old Babylonian Algebra and Its Kin

SKU: 9781475736854

Original price was: $189.00.Current price is: $24.99.

Access Lengths, Widths, Surfaces A Portrait of Old Babylonian Algebra and Its Kin Now. Discount up to 90%

Categories: ,

Additional information

Full Title

Lengths, Widths, Surfaces A Portrait of Old Babylonian Algebra and Its Kin
Author(s)

Jens Høyrup
Edition
ISBN

9781475736854, 9781441929457, 9780387953038
Publisher

Springer
Format

PDF and EPUB

Description

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.

Related products