Re: [math-fun] What is "geometric" about a geometric progression?

On Mar 2, 2011, at 9:11 PM, Andy Latto wrote:

But I think that's just wrong. The babylonians knew how to multiply, and did it arithmetically, rather than by use of geometry.

I don't agree, unless you can prove to me the Babylonians were manipulating algebraic expressions. The term "geometric" probably derives from the context in which the progression arises, such as subdividing plane geometry figures into infinite sequences of similar figures. A famous one involves dividing up the golden rectangle into a square and a smaller golden rectangle. Could the Babylonians have dealt with this example arithmetically? Veit