Bruce's Hieratic (Middle Kingdom) Math of Egypt CLEAN EMLR Page.
CREATED: JANUARY 2000
LAST MODIFIED: June 29, 2003
Meanwhile back in the jungle..
I still do not remember where I got this!
It is probably from my efforts at the Cairo Museum.
Please look at the next to last entry in column
II.
(COLUMN, Q#17)
This entry appears to read:
1/something? = 1/one hundred ninety-something else
(plus)
1/10 or the 1/10 is part of 1/40-something else (plus)
1/28 (definite!).
I have stewed over this one!
I have been unable to generate an equality that
satisfies any of my instincts for correctness. I think I would be happy if two or fewer corrections create an equality.
The following are my observations as to how we can
"guess".
A. The totals of questions 14-18 in column II suggest
a pattern.
B. This suggests 1/13 as the total for this question.
Just a hunch.
C. The 1/40-something may be 1/42 or 1/49.
D. 1/28 = 1/ (2 X 14), 1/42 = 1/ (3 X 14)
E. If we use 1/42 or 1/49 we eliminate 1/10.
F. The one hundred ninety-something is likely a multiple
of 13 or 14 or 28 or 42 or 49.
G. 42 won't cut it!
H. 196=28 X 7, 196=14 X 14, 196=49 X 4:
This leads to a possible solution with the addition of 1/98. 1/14=1/196+1/98+1/49+1/28 !
I. Guessing is not helping! You may wish to review
my analysis of the big UGLY on the QUEST
Page.
Do you want to see what this looked like when I
got it?
Click on the big UGLY!
The big UGLY has been identified!
J. Legon recognized it as a portion of the Egyptian Mathematical Leather Roll.
Visit his site which reviews the linear progression problems from the Kahun Mathematical Papyri.
Want an even older math
lesson?
Click on the links below or meander through at your
own accord.
Do you know of any useful sites which have legible full size format images of Hieratic text?
E mail ME: brucefriedmandcg@aol.com
Also, you may view my list of EXTREMELY good sites (WITH HIERATIC IMAGES) that you should not miss.