Final answer:
The printing press significantly advanced the field of mathematics by making educational materials more affordable and accessible, leading to the widespread dissemination of mathematical knowledge during the Renaissance. The correct answer is A.
Step-by-step explanation:
The invention of the printing press played a crucial role in the advancement of mathematics, as well as other fields of knowledge during the period of its introduction. The key contribution of the printing press was that it made textbooks and other mathematical materials more affordable and accessible to a broader audience. This democratization of knowledge allowed for an unprecedented spread of information and spurred the intellectual movement known as the Renaissance, which further accelerated the progress of sciences including mathematics.
Before the printing press, the production of books was an incredibly laborious process that involved hand-copying texts. This made books rare and expensive, accessible only to the wealthy or to institutions like churches and universities. Mathematical manuscripts were no exception, and their scarcity was a barrier to education and progress in the field. However, with the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-15th century, it became possible to mass-produce books, thereby reducing their cost and increasing their availability.
The dissemination of knowledge was further enhanced by the printing of texts in local languages instead of Latin, which was predominantly used by scholars and the Church. This shift made mathematical concepts more understandable to the emerging population of literate commoners, effectively contributing to the standardization of language and education. As a result, the printing press was instrumental in shaping the development of the modern educational system, where mathematics became a standard subject of study.