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http://dx.doi.org/10.14477/jhm.2020.33.4.223

Controversial History of Pi in Ancient Egypt, Old Babylonia, and Ancient Greek Mathematics  

Park, Jeanam (Dept. of Math. Edu., Inha Univ.)
Publication Information
Journal for History of Mathematics / v.33, no.4, 2020 , pp. 223-236 More about this Journal
Abstract
We examine how the formulas of the area and the circumference of a circle related to pi in the ancient Egyptian and the Old Babylonian fields of mathematics have been controversial. In particular, the Great Pyramid of Khufu, Ahmes Papyrus Problem 48 and Moscow Mathematical Papyrus Problem 10 have raised extensive controversy over π. We propose the pi-theory of the Great Pyramid of Khufu as a dynamic symmetry based on Euclid's rectangle. In addition, we argue that the ancient Egyptian or Old Babylonian mathematics influenced Solomon's Molten Sea, Plato and Archimedes' pi.
Keywords
History of Pi; Ahmes Papyrus; Moscow Mathematical Papyrus; Solomon's Molten Sea;
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