![]() These tables allowed the scribes to rewrite any fraction of the form 1 / n as a sum of unit fractions. The Rhind Mathematical Papyrus and some of the other texts contain 2 / n tables. The Egyptian Mathematical Leather Roll for instance is a table of unit fractions which are expressed as sums of other unit fractions. Scribes used tables to help them work with these fractions. ![]() The Egyptians used some special notation for fractions such as 1 / 2, 1 / 3 and 2 / 3 and in some texts for 3 / 4, but other fractions were all written as unit fractions of the form 1 / n or sums of such unit fractions. Īn interesting feature of ancient Egyptian mathematics is the use of unit fractions. These texts may have been written by a teacher or a student engaged in solving typical mathematics problems. They consist of a collection of problems with solutions. The Moscow Mathematical Papyrus and Rhind Mathematical Papyrus are so called mathematical problem texts. ![]() 1650 BC) is said to be based on an older mathematical text from the 12th dynasty. The Rhind Mathematical Papyrus which dates to the Second Intermediate Period (c. The Moscow Mathematical Papyrus, the Egyptian Mathematical Leather Roll, the Lahun Mathematical Papyri which are a part of the much larger collection of Kahun Papyri and the Berlin Papyrus 6619 all date to this period. The earliest true mathematical documents date to the 12th Dynasty (c. The lines in the diagram are spaced at a distance of one cubit and show the use of that unit of measurement. 2690–2180 BC) is scarce, but can be deduced from inscriptions on a wall near a mastaba in Meidum which gives guidelines for the slope of the mastaba. The evidence of the use of mathematics in the Old Kingdom (c. Also, fractal geometry designs which are widespread among Sub-Saharan African cultures are also found in Egyptian architecture and cosmological signs. Archaeological evidence has suggested that the Ancient Egyptian counting system had origins in Sub-Saharan Africa. Further evidence of the use of the base 10 number system can be found on the Narmer Macehead which depicts offerings of 400,000 oxen, 1,422,000 goats and 120,000 prisoners. These labels appear to have been used as tags for grave goods and some are inscribed with numbers. Written evidence of the use of mathematics dates back to at least 3200 BC with the ivory labels found in Tomb U-j at Abydos.
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