• 한국수학사학회지
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• 제29권5호
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• pp.257-266
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• 2016

This paper is a sequel to our paper [3]. Although polynomials in the tianyuanshu induce perfectly the algebraic structure of polynomials, the tianyuan(天元) is always chosen by a specific unknown in a given problem, it can't carry out the role of the indeterminate in ordinary polynomials. Further, taking the indeterminate as a variable, one can study mathematical structures of polynomials via those of polynomial functions. Thus the theory of polynomials in East Asian mathematics could not be completely materialized. In the previous paper [3], we show that Jeong Yag-yong disclosed in his Gugo Wonlyu(勾股源流) the mathematical structures of Pythagorean polynomials, namely polynomials p(a, b, c) where a, b, c are the three sides gou(勾), gu(股), xian(弦) of a right triangle, respectively. In this paper, we show that Jeong obtained his results through his recognizing Pythagorean polynomials as polynomial functions of three variables a, b, c.

• 한국수학사학회지
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• 제28권6호
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• pp.301-310
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• 2015

Since Jiuzhang Suanshu, the main tools in the theory of right triangles, known as Gougushu in East Asia were algebraic identities about three sides of a right triangle derived from the Pythagorean theorem. Using tianyuanshu up to siyuanshu, Song-Yuan mathematicians could skip over those identities in the theory. Chinese Mathematics in the 17-18th centuries were mainly concerned with the identities along with the western geometrical proofs. Jeong Yag-yong (1762-1836), a well known Joseon scholar and writer of the school of Silhak, noticed that those identities can be derived through algebra and then wrote Gugo Wonlyu (勾股源流) in the early 19th century. We show that Jeong reveals the algebraic structure of polynomials with the three indeterminates in the book along with their order structure. Although the title refers to right triangles, it is the first pure algebra book in Joseon mathematics, if not in East Asia.