Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Ιστορία και Φιλοσοφία των Επιστημών και της ΤεχνολογίαςLibrary of the School of Science
Supervisors info:
Γιάννης Χριστιανίδης, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα ΙΦΕ, ΕΚΠΑ
Κωνσταντίνος Δημητρακόπουλος, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα ΙΦΕ, ΕΚΠΑ
Μιχάλης Σιάλαρος, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Τμήμα ΙΦΕ, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Το τέταρτο (αραβικό) βιβλίο των Αριθμητικών του Διόφαντου. Μια μαθηματική και ιστορική μελέτη
Translated title:
The fourth (Arabic) book of Diophantus' Arithmetica. A mathematical and historical study
Summary:
Over the last few years, a new way to conceptualize Diophantus’ Arithmetica has been proposed, using the new historiographical category of premodern algebra. Pointing out the differences between premodern and modern, i.e., post-Vietan, algebra, this approach supports the algebraic character of Diophantus’ work.
The purpose of the present dissertation is to analyse the fourth book of Diophantus’ Arithmetica, which survives in an Arabic translation made in the last quarter of the 9th century.
More specifically, we provide the analysis of the 44 solved arithmetical problems of the book, using the concepts and techniques of premodern algebra. We focus on the special structure of the Diophantine solutions, the technical vocabulary and the different techniques which are used in order to convert each problem into an equation.
Main subject category:
Science
Keywords:
Diophantus, Arithmetica, History of Algebra, Premodern Algebra, Algebra, Arithmetic, Arabic books of Arithmetica
