Final answer:
Our knowledge of Babylonian mathematics comes from historical documents, archaeological artifacts, and modern research and scholarly studies. The Babylonians were skilled astronomers and mathematicians, and their mathematical knowledge has been preserved on clay tablets. Modern research and scholarly studies have contributed to our understanding of Babylonian mathematics.
Step-by-step explanation:
Our knowledge of Babylonian mathematics comes from a combination of historical documents, archaeological artifacts, and modern research and scholarly studies. The city of Babylon, located in present-day southern Iraq, was home to a flourishing scribal tradition that produced writings on various subjects including mathematics. These writings were preserved on clay tablets and have been discovered by archaeologists in ancient Babylonian cities.
For example, the Babylonians were skilled astronomers and mathematicians who were able to predict eclipses and create detailed calendars. They also developed a system of arithmetic that formed the basis of mathematics in the ancient Mediterranean world. One of the notable mathematical artifacts discovered is the Plimpton 322 clay tablet, which dates back to around 1800 BCE and demonstrates the Babylonians' knowledge of the relationship between the sides and hypotenuse of a right triangle, as well as trigonometric functions.
Additionally, modern research and scholarly studies have played a crucial role in deciphering and interpreting these ancient mathematical texts. Scholars have analyzed and translated the cuneiform script found on the clay tablets, shedding light on the mathematical methods and concepts employed by the Babylonians. Through these efforts, our understanding of Babylonian mathematics continues to expand.