Was Pythagoras Chinese? An Examination of Right Triangle Theory in Ancient China. The Pennsylvania State University Studies No. 40.

This book is primarily a scholarly monograph on ancient Chinese theory and application concerning the right triangle, based on evidence contained in classical mathematics texts and scrolls. It is also the first complete English translation of the ninth chapter of the Chiu chang suan chu, the richest source of problems from antiquity dealing with the right triangle. Sections of the monograph include: (1) Perspectives; (2) The Chiu Chang's Problems Involving Right Triangles; and (3) Conclusions. The authors conclude that the oldest recorded proof of the "Pythagorean" theorem was of Chinese origin. (RH)