Stamp corner
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l--"ie~,,~,~e,,z,]~,i[.~--- Robin Wilson I Chinese Mathematics I Raymond Flood and Robin Wilson C hinese mathematicians have ap- peared on a number of stamps, and the ones shown here illustrate mathematical developments over many centuries. Zhang Heng [Chang Heng] (78-139 AD), inventor of the seismo- graph, was one of several Chinese mathematicians who devoted attention to finding the value of ~-. He proposed the value ~/~ (approximately 3.16), a value also found by Indian mathemati- cians a couple of centuries earlier. The Chinese fascination with 7r reached its climax with the work of Zu Changzhi [Tsu Ch'ung-Chih] (429-500), who found that 7r lies between 3.1415926 and 3.1415927; the value given on the stamp is the average of these bounds. He also discovered the approximation 355/113, which also gives ~- correct to six decimal places; this approximation was rediscovered in Europe over a thousand years later. Both of these stamps appeared in 1995. Two 20th-century mathematicians appear in series of stamps on Chinese scientists, issued in 1988 and 1992. They are Xiong Qinglai, who made important contributions to meromor- phic and entire functions; and his stu- dent, Hua Loo-Keng [Hua Luogeng] an outstanding number-theorist--lea- tured in our article in vol. 16 (1994), no. 3, 36-46. Raymond Flood Department of Continuing Education Kellogg College Oxford, OX1 2JA UK Hua Loo-Keng Xiong Qinglai Please send all submissions to the Stamp Corner Editor, Robin Wilson, Faculty of Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, England Zhang Heng Zu Changzhi THE MATHEMATICAL INTELLIGENCER9 1998 SPRINGERWERLAG NEW YORK
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Transcript of Stamp corner
l - - " i e~ , ,~ ,~e , , z , ]~ , i [ .~ - - - R o b i n W i l s o n I
Chinese Mathematics I Raymond Flood and Robin Wilson
C hinese mathemat ic ians have ap- pea red on a n u m b e r o f s tamps,
and the ones shown here i l lustrate mathemat ica l developments over many
centuries.
Zhang Heng [Chang Heng] ( 7 8 - 1 3 9 A D ) , inventor of the seismo- graph, was one of severa l Chinese
mathemat ic ians who devo ted a t tent ion
to finding the value of ~-. He p r o p o s e d the value ~ / ~ (approx imate ly 3.16), a va lue also found by Indian mathemat i - c ians a couple of centur ies earlier. The
Chinese fascinat ion with 7r r eached its c l imax with the work of Zu Changzhi [Tsu Ch 'ung -Ch ih ] ( 4 2 9 - 5 0 0 ) , who found that 7r lies be tween 3.1415926 and 3.1415927; the value given on the
s t amp is the average of these bounds. He also d iscovered the approx ima t ion 355/113, which also gives ~- cor rec t to
s ix dec imal places; this approx ima t ion was red iscovered in Europe over a t housand years later. Both of these
s t amps appea red in 1995. Two 20th-century mathemat ic ians
a p p e a r in ser ies of s t amps on Chinese
scientists , i ssued in 1988 and 1992. They are X i o n g Q i n g l a i , who made impor tan t contr ibut ions to meromor- phic and entire functions; and his stu-
dent , Hua Loo-Keng [Hua Luogeng] an outs tanding number - theo r i s t - - l e a -
tu red in our art icle in vol. 16 (1994),
no. 3, 36-46.
Raymond Flood
Department of Continuing Education
Kellogg College
Oxford, OX1 2JA
UK
Hua L o o - K e n g
Xiong Qinglai
Please send all submissions to
the Stamp Corner Editor,
Robin Wilson, Faculty of Mathematics,
The Open University, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, England Zhang Heng Z u Changzhi
THE MATHEMATICAL INTELLIGENCER �9 1998 SPRINGERWERLAG NEW YORK
