Which options describe Chinese developments in mathematics?
(Select all that apply.)
A:The Han Dynasty invented calculus, even though Sir Isaac Newton has been given credit in most history books.
B:The Chinese discovered the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, known as pi (π), centuries before the Greek Empire.
C:The first Chinese book about mathematics, Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art, was composed before 200 BC.
D:Prior to inventing numbers, the Chinese method of number writing used clusters of short vertical or horizontal lines for digits.
Is it C & D?
Yes, options C and D are correct.
C: The first Chinese book about mathematics, Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art, was composed before 200 BC. This book is an ancient Chinese mathematical text that covers a wide range of mathematical topics, including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.
D: Prior to inventing numbers, the Chinese method of number writing used clusters of short vertical or horizontal lines for digits. The Chinese number system initially used symbols based on clusters of short lines to represent digits, similar to tally marks, before the development of the Hindu-Arabic numeral system we use today.
To arrive at these answers, you could have:
- Checked historical records and books to verify the timeline of the Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art and confirmed it predates 200 BC.
- Studied Chinese mathematical history and its number system to understand their early methods of number writing.
- Conducted research to ensure the accuracy of the information regarding the discovery of pi and its connection to the Chinese Empire.