Mathematical cognition related to the large numbers in early societies: A study based on 5th-century Buddhist Commentaries in Sri Lanka.

Universal presentations and interpretations of the history of mathematics have now been challenged, identifying the need of resurrecting hitherto marginalized contributions. In such studies, cognitive factors influencing the related development trajectories play a crucial role. Different societies would have had different mathematical cognitions contributing to the development of distinct forms of mathematics. This study attempts to surface the related cognitive contents of using large numbers. The principal source used for the study—the Buddhist Commentaries—determines the period and region covered. As such, it explores the conditions prevailed in 5th century CE (approximately) in Sri Lanka. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification (MSC 2000) code: 01A07 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]