Author(s)
As a student majoring in Applied Mathematics and pursuing a minor in History, I have heard of the names of some the more famous Chinese mathematicians such as Zu Chongzhi, but have never looked in detail at the work that they have produced. However, I am very interested to find out how mathematics developed in ancient China, and if could find some roots of modern mathematics from those times. In my talk, I will discuss some of the more intriguing mathematical results and procedures throughout the dynasties, coupled with the introductions of key mathematicians and mathematical texts that made significant impacts on the development of mathematics in China.
Author’s Reflection
I have chosen to do my individual project on the topic of History of Mathematics in China. This would allow me to conduct academic research into some of the key achievements made by various mathematicians in different periods of Chinese history. I wanted to present my findings in the form of a video, but given the technical nature of my topic, it would be difficult and unsuitable to take a more entertaining approach. Hence, I have decided to give a talk/presentation on what I found most interesting to me.
There are three main learning points that I would like my audience to take away from my talk. Firstly, they should recognise that mathematics in ancient China developed independently from the rest of the world, and was quite advanced in many aspects, such as the founding of important theorems and arithmetic procedures. Secondly, they should identify and understand some key achievements of Chinese mathematics in the different periods of Chinese history. Lastly, I wish to invoke some thoughts and reflections on some of the possible reasons to why China lagged behind the West in terms of technology and the sciences during the late Ming – Qing era, given its mathematical and scientific advancements earlier. Overall, I hope my audience can gain appreciation for the achievements of Chinese mathematics, and perhaps even find some relations to the perceived mathematical strength of the Chinese today.