Which options describe Chinese developments in mathematics?
(Select all that apply.)
A- The first Chinese book about mathematics, Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art, was composed before 200 BC.
B- The Chinese discovered the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, known as pi (π), centuries before the Greek Empire.
C-Prior to inventing numbers, the Chinese method of number writing used clusters of short vertical or horizontal lines for digits.
D- The Han Dynasty invented calculus, even though Sir Isaac Newton has been given credit in most history books.
B & C?
No
Yes, options B and C are correct.
B- The Chinese did discover the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter, known as pi (π), centuries before the Greek Empire.
C- Prior to inventing numbers, the Chinese method of number writing used clusters of short vertical or horizontal lines for digits.
Options A and D are incorrect. The first Chinese book about mathematics, Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art, was composed before 200 BC (option A). However, it is worth noting that mathematical activities in China can be traced back much earlier to the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC). The Han Dynasty did not invent calculus (option D); this credit is typically given to Sir Isaac Newton.
The correct options are A and B.
A- The first Chinese book about mathematics, Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art, was composed before 200 BC. This is true. The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art is a Chinese mathematics book that was written between the 10th and 2nd century BC. It covers a wide range of mathematical topics such as algebraic equations, geometry, and arithmetic.
B- The Chinese discovered the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, known as pi (π), centuries before the Greek Empire. This is also true. The Chinese mathematicians approximated the value of pi long before the Greeks did. In fact, a Chinese mathematician named Zu Chongzhi (5th century AD) calculated pi to an accuracy of seven decimal places, which was a significant achievement for that time.
C- Prior to inventing numbers, the Chinese method of number writing used clusters of short vertical or horizontal lines for digits. This statement is not correct. The Chinese invented a system of number writing using symbols for digits. They did not use clusters of short lines.
D- The Han Dynasty invented calculus, even though Sir Isaac Newton has been given credit in most history books. This statement is not correct. Although the Chinese made significant contributions to mathematics, including algebra and geometry, they did not invent calculus. Calculus is generally credited to Sir Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz in the 17th century.