Essay about Egyptian Math - 1035 Words

Egyptian Math The use of organized mathematics in Egypt has been dated back to the third millennium BC. Egyptian mathematics was dominated by arithmetic, with an emphasis on measurement and calculation in geometry. With their vast knowledge of geometry, they were able to correctly calculate the areas of triangles, rectangles, and trapezoids and the volumes of figures such as bricks, cylinders, and pyramids. They were also able to build the Great Pyramid with extreme accuracy. Early surveyors found that the maximum error in fixing the length of the sides was only 0.63 of an inch, or less than 1/14000 of the total length. They also found that the error of the angles at the corners to be only 12, or about 1/27000 of a†¦show more content†¦Isis was Osiriss wife and their son was Horus. Seth was Osiriss evil brother and Nephthys was Seths sister (Weigel 19). The Egyptians divided their year into 3 seasons that were 4 months each. These seasons included inundation, coming-forth, and summer. Inundation was the sowing period, coming-forth was the growing period, and summer was the harvest period. They also determined a year to be 365 days so they were very close to the actual year of 365  ¼ days (Gillings 235). When studying the history of algebra, you find that it started back in Egypt and Babylon. The Egyptians knew how to solve linear (ax=b) and quadratic (ax2+bx=c) equations, as well as indeterminate equations such as x2+y2=z2 where several unknowns are involved (Dauben). The earliest Egyptian texts were written around 1800 BC. They consisted of a decimal numeration system with separate symbols for the successive powers of 10 (1, 10, 100, and so forth), just like the Romans (Berggren). These symbols were known as hieroglyphics. Numbers were represented by writing down the symbol for 1, 10, 100, and so on as many times as the unit was in the given number. For example, the number 365 would be represented by the symbol for 1 written five times, the symbol for 10 written six times, and the symbol for 100 written three times. Addition was done by totaling separately the units-1s, 10s, 100s, and so forth-in the numbers to be added.Show MoreRelatedAn Egyptian Student Wanting To Study Engineering in the UK662 Words   |  3 PagesI have recently, after appraising the situation in my country – Egypt – following the Egyptian revolution, detected dents in the Egyptian operating system that need further construction. These are chasms that require m aintenance and upkeep, and lie in all aspects of our life: education, health, transportation, economy etc.So I believe engineering will be my map to study the mechanic of the Egyptian society and accurately locate the problem. 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After years of researching on the earliest Egyptian Pyramid, Pyramid of Djoser, and the most famous Egyptian PyramidRead MoreAncient Egyptian Pyramid Building Essay1280 Words   |  6 PagesAncient Egyptian Pyramid Building The Egyptian pyramids have been the subject of many outlandish claims and construction theories for centuries. The Great Pyramid for example has been associated with pyramid power, curses, Atlantis, Mexican pyramids, Stonehenge, Nazca, the Bermuda Triangle, Biblical prophecy, Martian faces, advanced civilizations, space aliens, cavity resonators, and even levitation. It is not surprising that some who have proposed such theories have been dubbed pyramidiotsRead MoreThe Great Pyramid Of Giza1138 Words   |  5 Pagessurface of Earth s land mass. Almost perfectly oriented to the four points of the compass, facing true north more accurately than any structure built before or since. 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