Practical mathematics in a commercial metropolis

Meskens, Ad

doi:10.1007/978-94-007-5721-9

Cited by 14 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…4 For the educational context in which these problems were used, see (Bayless, 2002). of the real mathematical needs for the practice of merchants and craftsmen during the Renaissance: money exchange, calculation of interests and annuities, navigation, surveying, gauging, fortification and ballistics (Meskens, 2013). The mathematicians from the Low Countries that contributed most to these practical problems in the sixteenth century were Valentijn Mennher and Michiel Coignet (Mennher, 1556;Coignet, 1597).…”

Section: On Renaissance Problems and Their Functionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

How algebra spoiled recreational problems: A case study in the cross-cultural dissemination of mathematics

Heeffer

2014

Historia Mathematica

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This paper deals with a sub-class of recreational problems which are solved by a simple memorized rule resulting from an elementary arithmetical or algebraic solution, called proto-algebraic rules. Their recreational aspect is derived from a surprise or trick solution which is not immediately obvious to the subjects involved. Around 1560 many such problems wane from arithmetic and algebra textbooks to reappear in the eighteenth century. Several hypotheses are investigated why popular Renaissance recreational problems lost their appeal. We arrive at the conclusion that the emergence of algebra as a general problem solving method changed the scope of what is considered recreational in mathematics. SommarioQuesto saggio tratta di una sottoclasse di problemi ricreativi risolti tramite memorizzazione di una semplice regola risultante da una soluzione algebraica o aritmetica, chiamata regola proto-algebraica. L'aspetto ricreativo di questi problemi deriva da una soluzione a sorpresa o da un trucco non immediatamente ovvi ai soggetti coinvolti. Intorno al 1560 svariati problemi di questo tipo sparirono dai manuali di algebra e aritmetica, per riapparire nel diciottesimo secolo. Diverse ipotesi sono vagliate sul perché problemi ricreativi popolari nel Rinascimento persero attrattività, per giungere alla conclusione che l'emergere dell'algebra come metodo generale di risoluzione di problemi cambiò la portata di ciò che era considerato ricreativo in matematica.

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Section: On Renaissance Problems and Their Functionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

How algebra spoiled recreational problems: A case study in the cross-cultural dissemination of mathematics

Heeffer

2014

Historia Mathematica

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“…From these first cities north of the Alps, practical arithmetic schools spread to other centres. The first evidence of practical arithmetic schools in the Low Countries is from the early 16 th century, with Antwerp as the hub for this kind of training (Kool 1988;Meskens 2013). From the north of the continent, practical arithmetic schools eventually crossed the Channel towards England.…”

Section: The Spread Of Practical Arithmetic In England and The Cultur...mentioning

confidence: 99%

L’economia della conoscenza: innovazione, produttività e crescita economica nei secoli XIII-XVIII / The knowledge economy: innovation, productivity and economic growth, 13th to 18th century

2023

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The studies presented here analyze the relationship between the knowledge economy and innovations, productivity, and economic growth in the premodern period (13th-18th centuries) by considering the following questions: how was “useful knowledge” transmitted between individuals, across space, and across generations? How could commercial and industrial productivity have been associated with the expansion of such knowledge? When and where was useful knowledge concentrated in such a way that a relatively large number of innovations and inventions could cause revolutionary breakthroughs in particular sectors of the economy?

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“…Yet, the city long continued to serve as a turntable for flows of 'open air' knowledge coming from areas outside Europe. Apart from the zeal of the Officina Plantiniana, which under the management of Plantijn's in-laws, the Moretus family, brought out reprints of works by Ortelius, Dodoens, Lobelius and Clusius until about 1650, 23 this was largely due to the activities of a religious longdistance corporation that gained a firm foothold in Antwerp after the return of Spanish rule and was known as the Society of Jesus.…”

Section: Antwerp After the Fallmentioning

confidence: 99%