Based on extensive research in Sanskrit sources, Mathematics in India chronicles the development of mathematical techniques and texts in South Asia from antiquity to the early modern period. Kim Plofker reexamines the few facts about Indian mathematics that have become common knowledge--such as the Indian origin of Arabic numerals--and she sets them in a larger textual and cultural framework. The book details aspects of the subject that have been largely passed over in the past, including the relationships between Indian ...
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Based on extensive research in Sanskrit sources, Mathematics in India chronicles the development of mathematical techniques and texts in South Asia from antiquity to the early modern period. Kim Plofker reexamines the few facts about Indian mathematics that have become common knowledge--such as the Indian origin of Arabic numerals--and she sets them in a larger textual and cultural framework. The book details aspects of the subject that have been largely passed over in the past, including the relationships between Indian mathematics and astronomy, and their cross-fertilizations with Islamic scientific traditions. Plofker shows that Indian mathematics appears not as a disconnected set of discoveries, but as a lively, diverse, yet strongly unified discipline, intimately linked to other Indian forms of learning. Far more than in other areas of the history of mathematics, the literature on Indian mathematics reveals huge discrepancies between what researchers generally agree on and what general readers pick up from popular ideas. This book explains with candor the chief controversies causing these discrepancies--both the flaws in many popular claims, and the uncertainties underlying many scholarly conclusions. Supplementing the main narrative are biographical resources for dozens of Indian mathematicians; a guide to key features of Sanskrit for the non-Indologist; and illustrations of manuscripts, inscriptions, and artifacts. Mathematics in India provides a rich and complex understanding of the Indian mathematical tradition. **Author's note: The concept of "computational positivism" in Indian mathematical science, mentioned on p. 120, is due to Prof. Roddam Narasimha and is explored in more detail in some of his works, including "The Indian half of Needham's question: some thoughts on axioms, models, algorithms, and computational positivism" ( Interdisciplinary Science Reviews 28, 2003, 1-13).
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Add this copy of Mathematics in India to cart. $49.90, good condition, Sold by Literary Cat Books rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Machynlleth, Powys, WALES, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2009 by Princeton University Press.
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Fine in Fine dust jacket. 0691120676. With illustrations. Light shelfwear.; "Mathematics in India" by Kim Plofker is a comprehensive exploration of the development of mathematical techniques and texts in South Asia from antiquity to the early modern period. Plofker, an expert in the history of mathematics, delves deeply into Sanskrit sources to reevaluate and situate Indian mathematical knowledge within both a broader textual and a cultural framework. The book covers the Indian origins of concepts such as Arabic numerals and examines the connections between Indian mathematics and its astronomical applications, highlighting how these interrelations influenced other scientific traditions, including Islamic science. The narrative does not merely recount facts but also addresses common misconceptions and gaps in the scholarship of Indian mathematics, offering a clearer picture of its evolution and significance. Plofker's work is unique in its detailed discussion of the relationship between Indian mathematics and astronomy, which is presented with sufficient depth, making the book an excellent resource for understanding mathematical astronomy as well. Structured to cater to both scholars and general readers, the book includes biographical details about numerous Indian mathematicians, a guide to key features of Sanskrit relevant to the non-specialist, and illustrations of significant manuscripts and artifacts. This work has been critically acclaimed for its thorough research and balanced presentation, making significant contributions to the field of the history of mathematics and serving as a vital resource for anyone studying this subject.; Octavo; xiv, 357 pages.
Add this copy of Mathematics in India to cart. $57.00, very good condition, Sold by Moe's Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Berkeley, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2009 by Princeton University Press.
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Very good in Very good jacket. Jacket is slightly worn at edges. Jacket spine is lightly sunned, but text is legible. Cover is in great condition. Binding is tight, and inside is clean and unmarked.
Add this copy of Mathematics in India to cart. $77.28, new condition, Sold by Kennys.ie rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Galway, IRELAND, published 2009 by Princeton University Press.
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New. Based on research in Sanskrit sources, this title chronicles the development of mathematical techniques and texts in South Asia from antiquity to the early modern period. Num Pages: 360 pages, 10 halftones. 40 line illus. BIC Classification: 1FKA; PBX. Category: (P) Professional & Vocational; (U) Tertiary Education (US: College). Dimension: 243 x 166 x 30. Weight in Grams: 820. 2009. 1st Edition. Hardcover.....We ship daily from our Bookshop.
Add this copy of Mathematics in India to cart. $79.24, new condition, Sold by Ria Christie Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Uxbridge, MIDDLESEX, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2009 by Princeton University Press.
Add this copy of Mathematics in India to cart. $81.66, new condition, Sold by Ria Christie Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Uxbridge, MIDDLESEX, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2009 by Princeton University Press.
Add this copy of Mathematics in India to cart. $94.76, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2009 by Princeton University Press.
Add this copy of Mathematics in India to cart. $98.11, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2009 by Princeton University Press.
