section_path: Science and technology/Mathematics/Algebra
section_name: Algebra
paragraph_text: Algebra
  
  The roots of algebra can be traced to the ancient Babylonia who developed an advanced arithmetical system with which they were able to do calculations in an algorithmic fashion.
  
  The Babylonian clay tablet YBC 7289 (c. 1800 –1600 BC) gives an approximation of √ 2 in four sexagesimal figures, 1 24 51 10, which is accurate to about six decimal digits, and is the closest possible three-place sexagesimal representation of √ 2:
  
  The Babylonians were not interested in exact solutions, but rather approximations, and so they would commonly use linear interpolation to approximate intermediate values. One of the most famous tablets is the Plimpton 322 tablet, created around 1900–1600 BC, which gives a table of Pythagorean triples and represents some of the most advanced mathematics prior to Greek mathematics.