The oldest math in history is considered to be Babylonian mathematics, which dates back to 1800 BC.
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Babylonian mathematics is considered the oldest math in history, dating back to approximately 1800 BC in ancient Mesopotamia. The Babylonians used a base-60 number system, which is believed to have influenced our modern-day division of hours into 60 minutes and minutes into 60 seconds. They also developed the concept of fractions, which allowed them to perform calculations involving non-whole numbers.
One interesting fact about Babylonian mathematics is that it was primarily used for practical purposes, such as surveying land and keeping track of financial transactions. However, they also developed complex mathematical calculations for astronomical purposes, including predicting the movement of celestial bodies.
In addition to their use of fractions, the Babylonians also utilized a form of algebraic notation, albeit different from what we use today. They used clay tablets to document their mathematical calculations, which have been preserved and studied by historians.
As for a quote on Babylonian mathematics, historian Bill Casselman once stated, “What is most striking about Babylonian mathematics, compared to our own, is the relative lack of interest in exact numerical values.” This is reflected in their use of approximations and estimates in their calculations, rather than precise values.
Here is a table comparing Babylonian and modern-day mathematical notation:
| Babylonian | Modern |
|---|---|
| Base-60 system | Base-10 system |
| Approximations and estimates | Precise calculations |
| Algebraic notation, using unknowns and solve-for equations | Algebraic notation, using variables and equations |
| Clay tablets used for documentation | Digital or handwritten documentation |
Overall, the legacy of Babylonian mathematics can still be seen in modern-day mathematical concepts and notation.
A visual response to the word “What is the oldest math in history?”
This video discusses the debate between those who believe that mathematics is discovered, and those who believe that it is invented. The video provides examples of how mathematics has been used to solve problems in the real world.
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The earliest form of mathematics that we know is counting, as our ancestors worked to keep track of how many of various things they had. The earliest evidence of counting we have is a prehistoric bone on which have been marked some tallies, which sometimes appear to be in groups of five.
The earliest evidence of written mathematics dates back to the ancient Sumerians. They developed a complex system of metrology from 3000 BC and wrote multiplication tables on clay tablets from around 2500 BC onward. The Ishango bone, found in the Nile Valley and dating back to c. 20,000 BC, is possibly the earliest reference to prime numbers and Egyptian multiplication.
The earliest evidence of written mathematics dates back to the ancient Sumerians, who built the earliest civilization in Mesopotamia. They developed a complex system of metrology from 3000 BC. From around 2500 BC onward, the Sumerians wrote multiplication tables on clay tablets and dealt with geometrical exercises and division problems.
c. 20,000 BC – Nile Valley, Ishango bone: possibly the earliest reference to prime numbers and Egyptian multiplication. c. 3400 BC – Mesopotamia, the Sumerians invent the first numeral system, and a system of weights and measures. c. 3100 BC – Egypt, earliest known decimal system allows indefinite counting by way of introducing new symbols. [5]
There are at least three categories of evidence for early human use of mathematics, principally for counting. They are bones as tally sticks, ancient manuscripts and old cave paintings where abstract symbols for numbers and other concepts are to be found. But we may not be the first species to count!
Dating as far back as 22000 years ago, in the Upper Paleolitic era, the Ishango bone is a dark brown bone which happens to be the fibula of a baboon, with a sharp piece of quartz affixed to one end for engraving. It is the oldest attestation of the practice of arithmetic in human history.
The Lebombo Bone [ http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Lebombo_Bone ] is a baboon [ http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Baboon ]’s fibula [ http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Fibula ] with 29 distinct notches, discovered within the Border Cave [ http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Border_Cave ] in the Lebombo Mountains [ http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Lebombo_Mountains ] of Swaziland [ http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Swaziland ].
The so-called W…