A Remarkable Collection of Babylonian Mathematical Texts: Manuscripts in the Schoyen Collection Cuneiform Texts I - Couverture rigide

Friberg, Jöran

Couverture rigide

ISBN 10 : 0387345434 ISBN 13 : 9780387345437

Editeur : Springer-Verlag New York Inc., 2007

Synopsis

The book is a broad survey of Babylonian mathematics with many new and surprising results. It is based on a large collection of previously unpublished mathematical cuneiform texts in the possession of a Norwegian collector, Martin Schoyen.

A propos du livre

Revue de presse

"This fascinating book presents 121 unpublished mathematical clay tablets from the Norwegian Schøyen Collection ... . The book is divided into 12 chapters, 10 appendices, a vocabulary for MS texts, an index of subjects ... and a large list of references. ... Many pictures, drawings and coloured photos of the most interesting tablets are also included. ... opens up Babylonian mathematics to a new generation of mathematicians, historians of science and mathematics, teachers and students. It can therefore be recommended to a wide audience." --European Mathematical Society Newsletter, June, 2008

"We welcome the book under review, a study of the Martin Schøyen collection ... . this collection include exemplars of virtually every known type of mathematical tablet, as well as some types of tablets that have never been published. ... Friberg s book will be invaluable for anyone studying Mesopotamian mathematics, as it provides so many more examples of mathematical ideas that were used by the scribes. ... Any good library in the history of mathematics should possess copies ... ." --Victor J. Katz, Mathematical Reviews

Présentation de l'éditeur

The book analyzes the mathematical tablets from the private collection of Martin Schoyen. While some tablets are familiar, many contain fascinating new material. The author translates their mathematical content, compares it with previously 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. What makes this book so unique is the light being shed on Babylonian mathematics, including new evidence of Babylonian familiarity with sophisticated mathematical objects, such as the knowledge of the three dimensional Pythagorean equation and the geometry of the icosahedron. Another very important finding is the use of the zero notation in novel contexts and periods. The book is carefully written and organized, with useful drawings and pictures of the most interesting tablets. The book will be of interest to assyriologists, mathematicians, and historians of science.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
• Date d'édition: 2007
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 0387345434
• ISBN 13: 9780387345437
• Reliure: Relié
• Nombre de pages: 556
• Coordonnées du fabricant: GPSR Kontakt; ProductSafety@springernature.com; ; Tiergartenstr. 17; Heidelberg; 69121; Allemagne