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Celerity

(54,938 posts)
41. The origins of algebra can be traced to the ancient Babylonians
Wed Aug 21, 2024, 04:04 PM
Aug 2024
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_algebra#Babylon

The origins of algebra can be traced to the ancient Babylonians, who developed a positional number system that greatly aided them in solving their rhetorical algebraic equations. The Babylonians were not interested in exact solutions, but rather approximations, and so they would commonly use linear interpolation to approximate intermediate values. One of the most famous tablets is the Plimpton 322 tablet, created around 1900–1600 BC, which gives a table of Pythagorean triples and represents some of the most advanced mathematics prior to Greek mathematics.

Babylonian algebra was much more advanced than the Egyptian algebra of the time; whereas the Egyptians were mainly concerned with linear equations the Babylonians were more concerned with quadratic and cubic equations. The Babylonians had developed flexible algebraic operations with which they were able to add equals to equals and multiply both sides of an equation by like quantities so as to eliminate fractions and factors. They were familiar with many simple forms of factoring, three-term quadratic equations with positive roots and many cubic equations, although it is not known if they were able to reduce the general cubic equation.

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Learning integers is indeed the first steps towards Satanism which everybody knows is Algebra. n/t Yavin4 Aug 2024 #1
*Algebra* contains the word "bra". It's perverted Commie Muslin voodoo that MUST BE BANNED FROM SCHOOLS! BamaRefugee Aug 2024 #5
Worse yet, those ARABS invented and named it... sir pball Aug 2024 #12
I KNEW it had to be Muslin!!! BamaRefugee Aug 2024 #17
the ancient Babylonians were using algebraic equations thousands of years before there were any Muslims Celerity Aug 2024 #42
We only teach Christian math in this here USA. n/t Yavin4 Aug 2024 #22
examples IzzaNuDay Aug 2024 #44
The origins of algebra can be traced to the ancient Babylonians Celerity Aug 2024 #41
I always felt that way. BonnieJW Aug 2024 #35
This is from The Onion, yes??? PLEASE tell me this is from The Onion. niyad Aug 2024 #2
Political satire died years ago. Yavin4 Aug 2024 #23
This is completely fucking sickening. Initech Aug 2024 #3
Of course, arithmetic is communist Walleye Aug 2024 #4
Once again: those evil Arabic numerals. cbabe Aug 2024 #6
Al Gebra jojog Aug 2024 #14
Al Gore invented algebra also! madinmaryland Aug 2024 #49
Al-Gore-ithms are name after him, cause he invented them. GOP, hates to have his name honored. nt DontBelieveEastisEas Aug 2024 #54
Inequalities?! What is this communist propaganda! unblock Aug 2024 #7
and rational numbers PedroXimenez Aug 2024 #15
Home schooling may not require such things. Just a full color cartoon Bible. Arne Aug 2024 #8
Didn't you know imaginary numbers are proof of God? pat_k Aug 2024 #9
And irrational numbers WestMichRad Aug 2024 #28
An asterisk will indicate a unit of study MagickMuffin Aug 2024 #10
Whoever came up with this brilliant idea probably failed arithmetic. LoisB Aug 2024 #11
We can't have anything rational central scrutinizer Aug 2024 #13
Gee, here I thought enrolling your kid in school granted the teachers approval to teach. sinkingfeeling Aug 2024 #16
Don't forget to outlaw baseball too! GreenWave Aug 2024 #18
My favorite chemist! WestMichRad Aug 2024 #30
Fox News would tell MAGA to outlaw breathing if they thought the air was "woke". Initech Aug 2024 #55
Don't forget to outlaw baseball too! GreenWave Aug 2024 #19
I suspect this is "AI strikes again" ScratchCat Aug 2024 #20
Measure Figures is not sexually explicit? lame54 Aug 2024 #21
I hope a few parents check off some of those topics, at random, just to see how it gets dealt with in class. TheRickles Aug 2024 #24
Sickening. As Coach Walz said, these MAGATs are so WEIRD to require parents' signatures to teach kids math. iluvtennis Aug 2024 #25
Christian Fascists seriously don't want anyone being able to do math. lindysalsagal Aug 2024 #26
Logic is verboten under the new Reich JoseBalow Aug 2024 #29
utter madness-- the road to idiocracy LymphocyteLover Aug 2024 #27
Dunno. The one about ratios and reasoning. No maggot patriot would ever be bothered with reasoning. 3Hotdogs Aug 2024 #31
I taught in that district so here's the deal QED Aug 2024 #32
So this insanity is for real? niyad Aug 2024 #46
Yep QED Aug 2024 #51
soon, children from other countries will not only be better educated but they will know more about the US ecstatic Aug 2024 #33
Good god FullySupportDems Aug 2024 #34
Just require students to be able to count to ten. rubbersole Aug 2024 #36
What's an integer? Kaleva Aug 2024 #37
a whole number and not a fraction Celerity Aug 2024 #39
Thanks! Kaleva Aug 2024 #45
maths are for lefties!!! Celerity Aug 2024 #38
You have got to be kidding me Jilly_in_VA Aug 2024 #40
This is insane. CaptainTruth Aug 2024 #43
The radical right is an existential threat to America. CaptainTruth Aug 2024 #47
Today integers, tomorrow it;s INTEGRATION and critical race theory and we all know where it leads Warpy Aug 2024 #48
It leads to calculus! EGADS!! madinmaryland Aug 2024 #50
Just say NO to fractions! Clouds Passing Aug 2024 #52
since math is hard, i guess math is political. pansypoo53219 Aug 2024 #53
well..if a parent believes the world is flat, might not want their kid seeing the earth used to represent a 3D figure. BlueWaveNeverEnd Aug 2024 #56
They want us dumb. Dumb people vote Republican. Dumb people make it required that H1B visas are issued. mucholderthandirt Aug 2024 #57
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