On the book Shu housed at Yuelu Academy (Study of the History of Mathematics)

Abstract

The book Shu is one of the books of Qin bamboo slips purchased by the Yuelu Academy in December 2007 (see [4] and [5]), and the Academy published a report on the Shu in 2011 with photographs of the slips (see [1]). We are investigating the Shu based on these photographs (see [6], 17], and [8]) in the same manner as our previous work on the Suanshu-shu (see [2]). In this paper, we discuss one issue regarding the order of the slips and two mathematical problems in the Shu comparing them with those in the Suanshu-shu. 1. Order of slips The first slip determined by the Yuelu Academy is the final one of the book Shu. 2. A problem similar to the Quxicheng (slips No. 32 to 34) We compared this problem in the Shu with the Quxicheng in the Suanshu-shu and obtained a complete interpretation 3. Yufang (slips No. 67 and 68) We propose an alternate method of division which is appropriate for the use of the word "chuiyu zhi zong."