Displaying similar documents to “Arithmetick Vulgar, Decimal, Instrumental, Algebraical”

It’s not that they couldn’t

Reviel Netz (2002)

Revue d'histoire des mathématiques

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The article offers a critique of the notion of ‘concepts’ in the history of mathematics. Authors in the field sometimes assume an argument from conceptual impossibility: that certain authors could not do X because they did not have concept Y. The case of the divide between Greek and modern mathematics is discussed in detail, showing that the argument from conceptual impossibility is empirically as well as theoretically flawed. An alternative account of historical diversity is offered,...

An objective and practical method for describing and understanding ratios

D. H. Fowler (1993)

Mathématiques et Sciences Humaines

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This article explores the use of the euclidian algorithm as a most useful way of handling ratios, especially when good rational approximations are required. Illustrations are taken from a discussion of the analysis of greek architecture by J.J Coulton. Although this is intended as a practical account, some discussions of theoretical aspects are included, and also of the relationship of this procedure to a new interpretation of early greek mathematics.