The Hidden Geometry of the Babylonian Square Root Method

Fernanda Jaiara Dellajustina, Luciano Camargo Martins

Department of Physics, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Joinville, Brazil.

DOI: 10.4236/am.2014.519284                

Abstract

We propose and demonstrate an original geometric argument for the ancient Babylonian square root method, which is analyzed and compared to the Newton-Raphson method. Based on simple geometry and algebraic analysis the former original iterated map is derived and reinterpreted. Time series, fixed points, stability analysis and convergence schemes are studied and compared for both methods, in the approach of discrete dynamical systems.

Keywords

Babylonian Square Root Method, Newton-Raphson Method, Iterated Map, Dynamical Systems

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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