History of Math - Lesson 2
History of Math - Lesson 2
History of Math - Lesson 2
MATHEMATICS IN
EGYPT
Egypt
Hieroglyphic
In other words, the Egyptian system was a decimal one (from the
Latin decem, “ten”), which used counting by powers of 10.
Egypt
Solution:
3 (1,000)= 3,000
1 (100)= 100
4 (10)= 40
5 (1)= 5
Answer: 3,145
EXAMPLES:
Solution:
3 (100)= 300
8 (10)= 80
8 (1)= 5
Answer: 385
EXAMPLES:
Solution:
2 (100,000)= 200,000
4 (1,000)= 4,000
2 (100)= 200
4 (10)= 40
6 (1)= 6
Answer: 204, 246
EXAMPLES:
Solution:
1 (1,000,000)= 1,000,000
1 (100,000)= 100,000
1 (10,000)= 10,000
2 (1,000)= 2,000
1 (100)= 100
3 (10)= 30
3 (1)= 3
Answer: 1,112,133
Egypt
Hieratic Script
Rhind Papyrus
Rhind Papyrus, was written in Hieratic script, and was kept in the
British Museum in London, from which we know a lot about
Egyptian mathematics.
It is named after the Scottish archeologist, Alexander Henry
Rhind, who found it, and was written in ink on papyrus by an
Egyptian scribe called Ahmes.
Rhind Papyrus
Egypt
Rhind Papyrus
Rhind Papyrus, was written in Hieratic script, and was kept in the
British Museum in London, from which we know a lot about
Egyptian mathematics.
It is named after the Scottish archeologist, Alexander Henry
Rhind, who found it, and was written in ink on papyrus by an
Egyptian scribe called Ahmes.
Lesson 2: Mathematics in Egypt and Mesopotamia
MESOPOTAMIA
Mesopotamia
Sumerian/Babylonian Mathematics
Cuneiform Script
Babylonian Numerals
(The Babylonian Positional Number System)
Sumerian and Babylonian mathematics was based on a
sexagesimal, or base 60, numeric system.
Babylonian Numerals
(The Babylonian Positional Number System)
Babylonian Numerals
(The Babylonian Positional Number System)
Example:
For example, the Babylonian 3 25 4 might stand as:
(𝟑 ⋅ 𝟐
𝟔𝟎 ) + (𝟐𝟓 ⋅ 𝟏
𝟔𝟎 ) + (𝟒 𝟎
⋅ 𝟔𝟎 )
= (𝟑 ⋅ 𝟑𝟔𝟎𝟎) + (𝟏𝟓𝟎𝟎) + (𝟒 ⋅ 𝟏)
= (𝟏𝟎, 𝟖𝟎𝟎) + (𝟏𝟓𝟎𝟎) + (𝟒)
= 𝟏𝟐, 𝟑𝟎𝟒
Mesopotamia
Example:
= 𝟏𝟐𝟎 + 𝟐𝟒
= 𝟏𝟒𝟒
Mesopotamia
Example:
For example, the Babylonian 4 10 3 might stand as:
(𝟒 ⋅ 𝟐
𝟔𝟎 ) + (𝟏𝟎 ⋅ 𝟏
𝟔𝟎 ) + (𝟑 𝟎
⋅ 𝟔𝟎 )
= (𝟒 ⋅ 𝟑𝟔𝟎𝟎) + (𝟏𝟎 ⋅ 𝟔𝟎) + (𝟑 ⋅ 𝟏)
= (𝟏𝟒, 𝟒𝟎𝟎) + (𝟔𝟎𝟎) + (𝟑)
= 𝟏𝟓, 𝟎𝟎𝟑
Mesopotamia