History of Babylonian word problems

 My degree was in “pure” mathematics, and it is strange, but I really had no introduction to that throughout my high school career. I love applied mathematics but have learned to appreciate ‘pure’ mathematics much more since my initial analysis class. If anyone has done Math 242 at SFU, I understand your pain. I interpret pure mathematics as quite abstract, I find it challenging to see the practicality being applied for say, Rings and Fields. However, this is based on my familiarity with contemporary algebra, as to why I find applied mathematics better. In many ways, ‘pure’ math is much more logical, you build your understanding of theorems and properties of the object of your study. Testing out and figuring out the behavior can lead to further development and understanding that could be applied to real-life applications.

I agree with Hoyrup as Gerzofsky( 2004, p.8) discusses that it is not that the Babylonians did not understand the abstraction of ‘pure’ math, but that they had no other discourse available other than practical problems to express abstract ideas. Their ideas behind the impractical nature of the problems were ‘pure’ but were ‘applied’ in their execution. I can understand that with no other source available, they explored their practical problems. The abstraction was to explore and test the method of solution and find where it failed or succeed. It is to understand the behavior and limits.

I remember my own experiences with word problems, I used to hate them when I was in grade school. Learning started with learning the method of solution in order to solve a problem, and then solving that problem in its application form. I am sure many remember the impractical amounts in word problems, where someone would buy 678 watermelons and we had to find how much each person at their party to get. It was done to test our method of solution and a very early way for us to start exploring the limits of our understanding. With no prior knowledge of ‘pure’ mathematics, the abstraction of applied problems was a way we could extend our own knowledge. So Babylonian word problems of impractical real-life problems make perfect sense to me now.