The Origins of Mathematics

by V. Lakshmikantham, S. Leela

Overview

Casting aside the usual Eurocentric theories about the origins of mathematics, the authors investigate Vedic texts which originated in ancient India. Aryabhatta, Sulvastrus, and Bhaskaracharya are among the Sanskrit-speaking theoreticians, whose astronomical works contributed to the ancient body of mathematics, preceding the Greeks. This book deals with some of the chronological difficulties in tracing the history of mathematics, as well as the reasons for the decay in the ancient Vedic civilization.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761817376
Publisher:	University Press of America
Publication date:	07/26/2000
Pages:	104
Product dimensions:	5.84(w) x 8.96(h) x 0.29(d)

About the Author

V. Lakshmikantham is Head of the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the Florida Institute of Technology. S. Leela is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics at SUNY in Geneseo, New York.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 List of Figures Chapter 2 List of Tables Chapter 3 Preface Chapter 4 Prevailing Theories Chapter 5 Indifference to Truth Chapter 6 Invented Theories Chapter 7 Chronological Aspects Chapter 8 From Baudhayana to Bhaskara I Chapter 9 From Brahmagupta to Nilakanta Chapter 10 Astronomical Aspects Chapter 11 Truth is Stranger than Fiction Chapter 12 Notes and Comments Chapter 13 References Chapter 14 Index Chapter 15 About the Authors

What People are Saying About This

Ganita Bharati

The book provides a fascinating account of the origin of mathematics and establishes convincingly that mathematics originated from India, and not from Greece, around 3000 BC.

Editorial Reviews

The book provides a fascinating account of the origin of mathematics and establishes convincingly that mathematics originated from India, and not from Greece, around 3000 BC.--Ganita Bharati

From the Publisher

...it is an eye-opener and it challenges the very method of fixing persons and incidents chronologically...

Mathematical Reviews

The book provides a fascinating account of the origin of mathematics and establishes convincingly that mathematics originated from India, and not from Greece, around 3000 BC.

Ganita Bharati

Mathematics began in India about 2700 BC, say Lakshmikantham (mathematics. Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Florida) and Leela (mathematics, State U. of New York-Geneseo). Only Eurocentric thinking and deliberate mistranslation of ancient texts have pushed Indian achievements forward to make them appear to post-date those of the Greeks. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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