History of Math and Technology
A blog covering the history of STEM and how we got to where we are.
The History of Irrational Numbers in Mathematics Irrational numbers are one of the most profound and fascinating discoveries in the history of mathematics. These are numbers that cannot be expressed as a ratio of two integers, and their decimal expansions neither terminate nor repeat. Examples include \(π\), \(e\), and \(\sqrt{2}\). Despite their seeming complexity, irrational …
The Ishango Bone: A Prehistoric Mathematical Marvel The Ishango Bone is one of the earliest known artifacts that suggest humanity’s ancient understanding of numbers, counting, and possibly even basic arithmetic. Unearthed in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, this prehistoric artifact dates back to around 18,000 to 20,000 years ago and provides an …
An Ancient Approach to Mathematics The Babylonian civilization, which thrived in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) from around 1894 BCE to 539 BCE, made significant contributions to the field of mathematics. One of their most enduring legacies is the Babylonian number system, a positional system that served as the foundation for later numerical systems, including our modern …