Discuss the three major mathematical achievements of ancient Babylon.

The ancient Babylonians were skilled calculators, and their calculation programs were realized with the help of multiplication tables, reciprocal tables, square tables and cubic tables. The Babylonian method of writing numbers deserves our attention.

They introduced a value system (hexadecimal) based on 60, which was still used by Greeks and Europeans for mathematical and astronomical calculations until16th century. Until now, hexadecimal is still used in angle, time and other records.

2. Algebra

Babylonians have rich knowledge of algebra, and many clay tablets contain problems of linear and quadratic equations. Their process of solving quadratic equations is consistent with today's collocation method and formula method. In addition, they also discussed some cubic equations and multivariate linear equations.

From BC 1900 to BC 1600, a table (No.322, Princeton) was recorded, and it was found that there were two groups of numbers in it, namely, the hypotenuse length of a right triangle with an integer side length and the side length of a right angle, from which the side length of another right angle was deduced, that is, the indefinite equation X2+Y2=Z2 was obtained.

3. Geometry

Babylonian geometry is closely related to actual measurement. They know that the corresponding edges of similar triangles are proportional, and they can calculate the area of a simple plane figure and a simple three-dimensional volume.

Extended data

The ancient Babylonians used cuneiform characters. People have been able to distinguish the stars from the five planets, observe the ecliptic, and then distinguish the 12 constellation on the ecliptic and draw the figure of the ecliptic 12 palace. We must also master the rules of finding cubic roots and square roots by four operations, squares and cubes, and be able to solve ternary linear equations.

They found that pi is 3, and they got the theorem that hook+chord = right triangle chord. In architecture and sculpture, the ancient Babylonians also developed. "code of hammurabi" stone column stigma relief techniques have been more skilled, concise and powerful lines.

The Mathematical Achievements of China Net-Ancient Babylonian Clay Board

Baidu Encyclopedia-Kingdom of Babylon