| A Remarkable Collection of Babylonian Mathematical Texts: Manuscripts in the Schøyen Collection: Cuneiform Texts I 2007 Edition Contributor(s): Friberg, Jöran (Author) |
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ISBN: 0387345434 ISBN-13: 9780387345437 Publisher: Springer OUR PRICE: $237.49 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: July 2007 Annotation: The book analyzes the mathematical tablets which are in the possession of a private collector, Martin Schoyen. This collection contains all sorts of tablets, some similar to classical ones but also others with fascinating new material. Here the author translates their mathematical content, compares it with previous known material, then evaluates the period of the tablet and its purpose. This allows the author to provide new insights into the interpretation of some classical tablets, as for example Plimpton 322 which has an exclusive appendix. What makes this book so unique is the light being shed on Babylonian mathematics. For instance, new evidence of Babylonian familiarity with sophisticated mathematical objects is provided, including the knowledge of the three dimensional Pythagorean equation and the familiarity with the geometry of the icosahedron is new and unexpected. The author is a master of analysis of the errors found in the tablets. It is well known that computational errors in the tablets are revealing of the algorithms employed in the computations. The author exploits with mastery this clever technique to gain new insight in the mathematical reasoning behind the content of the tablets. From the analysis it becomes increasingly clear that Babylonians were outstanding calculators, probably only comparable in modern times with exhibition genius calculators. For example, it appears that schoolboys were familiar with the multiplication tables at least up to 25!. He also gives numerous geometrical possible explanations and interpretations of the tablets. Another very important finding is the use of the zero notation in novel contexts and periods. The book is verycarefully written and organized, the tablets are classified according to their mathematical content and purpose, while useful drawings and pictures are provided for the most interesting tablets. The author makes a great effort to make the material accessible to both assyriologists and mathematicians. There is an introduction with basic background on babylonian mathematics and on numerous occasions the author reviews basic mathematical material |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Mathematics | History & Philosophy |
| Dewey: 510.935 |
| LCCN: 2006932408 |
| Series: Sources and Studies in the History of Mathematics and Physic |
| Physical Information: 1.48" H x 8.91" W x 11.17" (4.93 lbs) 536 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: The sub-collection of mathematical cuneiform texts in the Sch yen Collection makes a substantial addition to the known corpus of such texts. It contains 121 texts, not counting 151 multiplication tables and 53 small weight stones. According to the catalog at the end of the Index of Subjects below, where those 121 mathematical texts are ordered by content, nearly all known kinds, and some new kinds, of mathematical cun- form texts are represented in the collection. Therefore it has been possible to organize the present work as a broad general account of Mesopotamian mathematics, illustrated mainly by texts from the Sch yen Collection, but occasionally also by previously published texts. The general disposition of the book is borrowed from my own concise but comprehensive survey of Mesopotamian mathematics in the article on "Mathematics" in Reallexikon der Assyriologie, vol. 7 (1990). My ambition has been to make the account easily accessible to all kinds of readers, yet still as detailed and exhaustive as possible. For that purpose, there is, for instance, an introductory Chapter 0 on "how to get a b- ter understanding of mathematical cuneiform texts". The chapter begins with a discussion of the danger of unintentional anachronisms in translations of pre-Greek mathematical texts, and continues with a presentation of the kind of "conform" transliterations, translations, and interpretations, true to the original, that will be used throughout the book in discussions of individual texts. |