Babylonian and Egyptian Mathematics

Introduction

Babylon refers to any mathematics in Mesopotamia refers to any mathematics in Mesopotamia more than 400 clay tablets more than 400 clay tablets Cuneiform script Cuneiform script approximation to √2 approximation to √2 Sexadecimal numeral system (base 60) Sexadecimal numeral system (base 60)

Egyptian mathematics Refers to mathematics written in the egyptian language Refers to mathematics written in the egyptian language Greek replaced Egyptian as the written language of Egyptian scholars - Hellenistic mathematics Greek replaced Egyptian as the written language of Egyptian scholars - Hellenistic mathematics when Arabic became the written language of Egyptian scholars – Islamic mathematics when Arabic became the written language of Egyptian scholars – Islamic mathematics

oldest text – Moscow papyrus (2000 – 1800 BC) oldest text – Moscow papyrus (2000 – 1800 BC) word or story problems word or story problems volume of frustum volume of frustum Rhind papyrus(1650 BC) Rhind papyrus(1650 BC)

Egyptian Mathematics

earliest fully developed base 10 numeration system earliest fully developed base 10 numeration system

Babylonian mathematics

fractions, algebra, quadratic and cubic equations fractions, algebra, quadratic and cubic equations calculation of Pythagorean triples calculation of Pythagorean triples multiplication tables, trigonometry tables and methods for solving linear and quadratic equations multiplication tables, trigonometry tables and methods for solving linear and quadratic equations

Numerals written in cuneiform on a soft clay tablet written in cuneiform on a soft clay tablet astrological observations and calculations astrological observations and calculations Abacus Abacus positional numeral system with base 60 (divisible by 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, and 30) which appeared 1900 BC to 1800 BC. positional numeral system with base 60 (divisible by 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, and 30) which appeared 1900 BC to 1800 BC.

only two symbols for digits only two symbols for digits radix point was not used but was made clear from context radix point was not used but was made clear from context space was left to indicate a place without value - zero, later on they devised a sign space was left to indicate a place without value - zero, later on they devised a sign degrees, time degrees, time

pre-calculated tables to assist pre-calculated tables to assist used the lists of squares together with the formulas used the lists of squares together with the formulas

Division Division table of reciprocals table of reciprocals Quadratic equation Quadratic equation