• BiteMe

  

  152

  Re: First recorded mathematical expressions..

  Thu, May 1, 2008 - 2:46 PM

  Vague memories from History of Math bubbling to the surface.....
  
  I'm thinking census materials - addition and /or grouping... I'm thinking Aztec for some unknown reason; Egyptian seems like it should be older to me

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• • John

    

    1

    Re: First recorded mathematical expressions..

    Thu, May 1, 2008 - 8:56 PM

    My history of mathematics book (Kline's Mathematical Thought from Ancient to Modern Times) mentions babylonian tablets with numbers on them from 2000 B.C. But indicates mathematics as a separate study outside of commerce or (pyramid) building started with the Greeks. . . . but the index doesn't mention Aztecs or Mayan at all which makes me think its "old school" and didn't consider them at all.

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  • • Troy

      

      63

      Re: First recorded mathematical expressions..

      Thu, May 1, 2008 - 9:40 PM

      The oldest in the new world would go to the Olmec around 1200-700(?) BC, so the new world is mot in the running for the oldest math.

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