Explanations of Boethiusʼs Introduction to Arithmetic at the End of 10th Century

Abstract

This paper deals with commentaries and glosses to the first chapter of the second book of Boethiusʼs Introduction to Arithmetic written by Gerbert of Aurillac (Scholium ad Boethii Arithmeticae Institution l. II, c. 1), Abbo of Fleury (commentary on the Calculus of Victorius of Aquitaine, the so-called De numero, mensura et pondere), Notker of Liège (De superparticularibus) and by the anonymous author (the text De Arithmetica Boetii) in the last quarter of the 10^th century. This paper follows two main topics: firstly, Boethiusʼs work implies possibility of double interpretations of converting numerical sequences to equality; secondly, applications of this topic in other liberal arts and in playing board game called rithmomachia.