Intercultural Dialog and Mathematics Education: A Contribution from Ancient Chinese Algebra

Abstract

In this paper we discuss the educational possibilities connected to the use of an
ancient Chinese artifact. In a recent educational experiment we confronted a group of
10-11 year-old pupils with a problem (taken from the Jiuzhang Suanshu, 1st cent. BC),
which can be solved by means of a couple of simultaneous linear equations. Empirical
data suggest that the use of the primary artifact, taking into account the secondary
artifacts referred to the modes of action, can be important in approaching some
mathematical contents in the context of a new game making reference to a very
different cultural tradition.