• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.39-54
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• 2005

In Chinese Mathematics, Jia Xian(要憲) introduced Zeng cheng kai fang fa(增乘開方法) to get approximations of solutions of Polynomial equations which is a generalization of square roots and cube roots in Jiu zhang suan shu. The synthetic divisions in Zeng cheng kai fang fa give ise to two concepts of Fan il(飜積) and Yi il(益積) which were extensively used in Chosun Dynasty Mathematics. We first study their history in China and Chosun Dynasty and then investigate the historical fact that Chosun mathematicians Nam Byung Gil(南秉吉) and Lee Sang Hyuk(李尙爀) obtained the sufficient conditions for Fan il and Yi il for quadratic equations and proved them in the middle of 19th century.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.387-394
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• 2014

Since ancient civilization, solving equations has become one of the most important subjects in mathematics and mathematics education. The extractions of square roots and cube roots were first dealt in Jiuzhang Suanshu in the setting of subdivisions. Extending these, Shisuo Kaifangfa and Zengcheng Kaifangfa were introduced in the 11th century and the subsequent development became one of the most important contributions to mathematics in the East Asian mathematics. The translation of coordinate axes plays an important role in school mathematics. Connecting the translation and Kaifangfa, we find strong didactical implications for improving students' understanding the history of Kaifangfa together with the translation itself although the latter is irrelevant to the former's historical development.