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YouTube

Old Babylonian Surveying and Number Systems - Mathematics in Ancient Mesopotamia

Insights into Mathematics via YouTube

Overview

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Explore Old Babylonian mathematics and surveying techniques in this 23-minute video lecture. Delve into the recent analysis of the Si.427 tablet, an ancient field plan from Sippar. Learn about the importance of the sexagesimal number system in Mesopotamian mathematics and geometry. Compare and contrast ancient arithmetic with modern number systems. Examine the practical application of scaling triangles to fit required shapes. Gain insights into basic geometric shapes used in Old Babylonian surveying and the fundamental concepts of scaling and similarity. Solve a practical problem involving triangle scaling to understand the application of these ancient mathematical principles.

Syllabus

Introduction
Old Babylonian period
OB Surveying
OB geometry Basic shapes
Scalling and similarity
OB sexagesimal base 60 system
Our number systems
Practical problem scalling a given triangle

Taught by

Insights into Mathematics

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