• East Asian mathematical journal
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.499-521
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• 2021

This research is devoted to investigate Omar Khayyām's geometric solution for the cubic equation using conic sections in the Medieval Islam as a useful alternative connecting logic geometry with analytic geometry at a secondary school. We also introduce Omar Khayyām's 25 cases classification of the cubic equation with all positive coefficients. Moreover we study 6 cases with 4 terms of 25 cubic equations and in particular we reinterpret geometric methods of solving in 2015 secondary Mathematics curriculum and visualize them by means of dynamic geometry software.

• School Mathematics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.589-609
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• 2016

In this study, researchers have modernly reinterpreted geometric solving of cubic equations presented by an arabic mathematician, Omar Khayyam in medieval age, and have considered the pedagogical significance of geometric solving of the cubic equations using two conic sections in terms of analytic geometry. These efforts allow to analyze educational application of mathematics instruction and provide useful pedagogical implications in school mathematics such as 'connecting algebra-geometry', 'induction-generalization' and 'connecting analogous problems via analogy' for the geometric approaches of cubic equations: $x^3+4x=32$, $x^3+ax=b$, $x^3=4x+32$ and $x^3=ax+b$. It could be possible to reciprocally convert between algebraic representations of cubic equations and geometric representations of conic sections, while geometrically approaching the cubic equations from a perspective of connecting algebra and geometry. Also, it could be treated how to generalize solution of cubic equation containing variables from geometric solution in which coefficients and constant terms are given under a perspective of induction-generalization. Finally, it could enable to provide students with some opportunities to adapt similar solving procedures or methods into the newly-given cubic equation with a perspective of connecting analogous problems via analogy.