Why did Liu Hui fail to derive the volume of a sphere? (Q1176145)

This paper discusses in detail a difference in the heuristic approach of the methods that Liu Hui and Zu Geng employed in geometrical problems. This difference enabled Zu Geng to derive the volume of a sphere from the unfinished solution left by Liu Hui. The author points out that though Liu Hui's method enables him to solve many geometrical problems, Zu Geng's method had shown its strength in problems concerning the sphere. Both methods are rooted in the same traditional structure of ancient Chinese geometry and the paper provides a valuable insight into this subject.