• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.19-38
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• 2008

This study aims to investigate the evolution of calculating the volume of a sphere in eastern and western mathematical history. In western case, Archimedes', Cavalieri's and Kepler's approaches, and in eastern case, Nine Chapters';, Liu Hui's and Zus' approaches are worthy of noting. The common idea of most of these approaches is the infinitesimal concept corresponding to Cavalieri's or Liu-Zu's principle which would developed to the basic idea of Calculus. So this study proposes an alternative to organization of math-textbooks or instructional procedures for teaching the volume of a sphere based on the principle.