KYAMBOGO UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF SCIENCE
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE WITH EDUCATION – ECONOMICS OPTION
LECTURER: DR. KISA SARAH
COURSE UNIT: SMT 311 HISTORY OF MATHEMATICS
TASK: GROUP PRESENTATION
YEAR: THREE SEMESTER: ONE
DATE: 12th MAY, 2023
GROUP MEMBERS.

No. Name Registration number Position held Sign

1 KAUDHA PATRICIA 20/U/ESE/9083/PD Chairperson
2 AYEBARE CLIFF 20/U/ESE/9050/PD Vice chairperson
3 NAKAMYUKA AMINAH 20/U/ESE/9052/PD Secretary
4 MATOVU VICTOR 20/U/ESE/12587/GV Mobiliser
5 KASEMIRE WINNIE NINSIIMA 20/U/ESE/9055/PD Work Coordinator
6 ATIMANGO SYLIVIA 20/U/ESE/9056/PD Treasurer
7 SSEGAWA DAVID 20/U/ESE/9089/PD Welfare
8 KATWESIGYE ANNEST 20/U/ESE/9086/PD ITmodulator
9 MANGENI FREDRICK 20/U/ESE/9063/PD Time keeper
10 MUWONGE GEOFREY 20/U/ESE/9113/PD Discussion
coordinator
11 MASETTE ABEDINEGO 20/U/ESE/9096/PD counsellor

Question:
Explain the Greek mathematics giving the geographical location, time periods, evidence of
mathematics in Greece, outstanding mathematicians, the numerals, algebra, arithmetic and
geometry of Greek mathematics.
 Greek Mathematics.
Greek mathematics refers to the mathematics developed in Ancient Greece from the 7th century
BC to the 4th century AD. This period is often referred to as the Golden Age of Greek
Mathematics, as it produced some of the most significant contributions to mathematics in
history.
Greek mathematics refers to mathematics texts and ideas stemming from the Archaic through the
Hellenistic and Roman periods, mostly attested from the late 7th century BC to the 6th century
AD, around the shores of the Mediterranean. Greek mathematicians lived in cities spread over
the entire region, from Anatolia to Italy and North Africa, but were united by Greek culture and
the Greek language. The development of mathematics as a theoretical discipline and the use of
proofs is an important difference between Greek mathematics and those of preceding
civilizations.

Greek mathematics was also influenced by the work of earlier civilizations, particularly the
Babylonians and Egyptians. The Greeks built upon this foundation and developed their own
theories and methods, particularly in geometry and number theory. They also made significant
contributions to the study of irrational numbers, particularly through the work of Pythagoras and
his followers.
Greek mathematics had a profound impact on later generations of mathematicians, particularly in
Europe during the Renaissance. The methods and ideas developed by the Greeks continue to be
studied and applied in modern mathematics.
 Numerals of Greek Mathematics
Greek mathematics used a variety of numeral systems throughout history, including:
Acrophonic numerals: these are the earliest numerals in Greek which used I to represent
numbers 1-4, Ӷ to represent numbers 5-9, ∆ to 10, X to represent 1000-9000, M to represent
numbers from 10,000-90,000

Ionic numerals: these started in the 4th century BC which replaced the acrophonic system. Each
unit (1-9) was assigned a separate letter, (10-99) assigned a separate letter and each hundred
(100-900) assigned a separate letter. This required 27 letters, so the 24 letter Greek alphabet was
extended by using three absolute letters that is digamma, Koppa and sampi. An apostrophe sign
(‘) is used to distinguish numerals from letters it operates on. The additive principle in which the
numeric values of the letters are added together to form a total.
Milesian numerals: These were a system that used the first nine letters of the Greek alphabet to
represent the numbers one through nine, and then used combinations of these letters to represent
larger numbers. For example, ΑΒ represented 11, and ΑΕ represented 15. This system was used
by the Milesian school of mathematics in the 6th century BCE.
Alexandrian numerals: These were a system that used the Greek letters and symbols to
represent numbers in a more compact and efficient way than the other systems. For example, the
letter π (pi) was used to represent the number 3.14159... This system was used in the Hellenistic
period (3rd century BCE - 3rd century CE) and was influential in the development of later
numeral systems such as Roman numerals.

Algebra of Greek Mathematics

Greek algebra was a branch of mathematics that focused on solving equations and manipulating
mathematical expressions using symbols and unknowns. It is a precursor to the modern algebraic
system and played a significant role in the development of mathematics as we know it today.
One of the earliest known Greek mathematicians to contribute to algebra was Diophantus (200-
284 BC), who lived in the 3rd century CE. Diophantus wrote a series of books known as the
Arithmetica, which contained many algebraic equations and methods for solving them.
Diophantus used symbols to represent unknown quantities, and his work laid the foundation for
the use of algebraic notation in later centuries.

He looked at 3 types of equations

1. Ax2 + Bx = C
2. Ax2= Bx + C
3. Ax2 + C= Bx
He avoided negative coefficients and considered A, B and C to be positive in all cases.
He introduced the idea that math problems like X + Y =7 could have many solutions for example
X=2, Y=5 and X=1, Y=6
Another important figure in the development of Greek algebra was Euclid, who lived in the
4th century BCE. Euclid wrote a book called the Elements, which is still considered one of
the most important works in the history of mathematics. While the Elements does not contain
any algebraic equations, it did introduce the concept of proofs and logical reasoning, which
are essential to the study of algebra.
Another important concept in Greek algebra was the use of geometric figures to represent
equations. For example, the Greeks used the area of a rectangle to represent the product of two
numbers, and they used the length of a line segment to represent the square root of a number.

It is believed that another father of algebra was Al- Khwarizmi a Persian Mathematician who is
said to have given exhaustive explanation for algebraic solution of quadratic equations with the
root. Also, he was the first mathematician to teach algebra.
−𝑏±√𝑏2 −4𝑎𝑐
Quadratic formulae 𝑥 = to quadratic equation 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0 for a≠0
2𝑎

Other Greek mathematicians who contributed to the development of algebra include

Hippocrates of Chios, who introduced the concept of quadratic equations, and Apollonius of
Perga, who wrote a series of books known as the Conics that dealt with the geometry of conic
sections.
Overall, Greek algebra laid the foundation for many of the concepts and techniques used in
modern algebra, and its influence can still be seen in the study of mathematics today.

Geometry of Greek Mathematics

The word "geometry" itself comes from the Greek words’ "geo" meaning earth, and "metron"
meaning measure.
The ancient Greek mathematician Euclid is widely regarded as the father of geometry. He
wrote a book called "Elements," which became one of the most influential mathematical texts in
history. In this book, Euclid laid out the foundations of geometry as a deductive system based on
a small set of axioms or postulates.
One of the most famous of these axioms is the parallel postulate, which states that if a line
intersects two other lines and the interior angles on the same side of the intersecting line add up
to less than 180 degrees, then the two other lines will eventually intersect if they are extended far
enough.

Euclid's "Elements" also introduced concepts such as points, lines, angles, and planes, and laid
out the rules for constructing geometric figures using a straightedge and compass.
Other Greek mathematicians, such as Pythagoras, Thales, and Archimedes, also made
significant contributions to geometry. Pythagoras, for example, is famous for his theorem that
states that in a right triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse (the side opposite
the right angle) is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two sides.
Pythagoras Theorem Proof
Given: A right-angled triangle ABC, right-angled at B.
Pythagoras

Archimedes
Archimedes, who lived several centuries after Euclid and Pythagoras, developed a method for
calculating the area of a circle and determined the value of pi to a high degree of accuracy.
The way Archimedes formulated his Proposition about the area of a circle is that it is equal to the
area of a triangle whose height is equal to it radius and whose base is equal to its circumference:
(1/2) (r · 2πr) = πr2

Overall, the Greek approach to geometry was based on a combination of intuition, observation,
and deductive reasoning. Their work laid the foundations for modern geometry and influenced
mathematical thinking for centuries to come.
 Arithmetic’s of the Greek mathematics
The Greeks made significant contributions to arithmetic, which is the study of numbers and
operations in the classic period (5th to 4th century BC)
One of the most important Greek mathematicians who contributed to arithmetic was Pythagoras.
He and his followers believed that numbers had mystical properties and that they could explain
the workings of the universe. Pythagoras is credited with discovering the Pythagorean Theorem,
which relates to the sides of a right-angled triangle.
Another important Greek mathematician was Euclid, who wrote "Elements," one of the most
influential books in the history of mathematics. In "Elements," Euclid presented a systematic and
rigorous approach to geometry and number theory. Euclid's work in number theory included the
development of the theory of prime numbers and the study of perfect numbers.
Fractions

The Greeks used fractions, as did earlier civilizations. Their notation, however, was ambiguous
and context was crucial for the correct reading a fraction. A diacritical mark was placed after the
denominator of the (unit) fraction. So,

β’=1/2 and μβ’= 1/42

1
but this latter example could also mean 402

More complex fractions could be written as well, with context again being important. The
numerator was written with an overbar, the denominator with the diacritical mark.

Numerous, similar, representations also have been used, with increasing sophistication with time.
Indeed, Diophantus (who came along very late in Greek mathematics) uses a fractional form
identical to ours but with the numerator and denominator in reversed positions.

The arithmetic operations are complex in that so many symbols are used. Multiplication was
carried out using the distributive law.

Remarkably, division was performed in essentially the same way as we do it today.

Overall, the Greeks made important contributions to arithmetic and laid the groundwork for the
development of mathematics as a rigorous discipline. Their discoveries and methods continue to
influence and inspire mathematicians today.
REFERENCE:
http://www.math.tamu.edu/~dallen/history/gr_count.html
http://www.storyofmathematics.com/greek.html
https://byjus.com/maths/pythagoras-theorem/