Bacelar Valente, Mario (2018) On the correctness of ancient mathematical procedure texts. [Preprint]

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Abstract

It has been argued in relation to Old Babylonian mathematical procedure texts that their validity or correctness is self-evident. One “sees” that the procedure is correct without it having, or being accompanied by, any explicit arguments for the correctness of the procedure. Even when agreeing with this view, one might still ask about how is the correctness of a procedure articulated? In this work, we present an articulation of the correctness of ancient Egyptian and Old Babylonian mathematical procedure texts. We endeavor to make explicit and explain how and why the procedures are reliable over and above the fact that their correctness is intuitive.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Bacelar Valente, Mario
Keywords:	Egyptian mathematics, Old Babylonian mathematics, correctness, mathematical procedure
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Mathematics > History
Depositing User:	mario bacelar valente
Date Deposited:	31 Jan 2019 15:15
Last Modified:	31 Jan 2019 15:15
Item ID:	15697
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Mathematics > History
Date:	3 March 2018
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/15697

Available Versions of this Item

• On the correctness of ancient mathematical procedure texts. (deposited 31 Jan 2019 15:15) [Currently Displayed]
  • On the correctness of problem solving in ancient mathematical procedure texts. (deposited 14 Nov 2020 15:29)

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