Rhind Mathematical Papyrus

Rhind Mathematical Papyrus
Rhind Mathematical Papyrus
British Museum, London
	A portion of the Rhind Papyrus
Date	Second Intermediate Period of Egypt
Place of origin	Thebes, Egypt
Language(s)	Egyptian (Hieratic)
Scribe(s)	Ahmes
Material	Papyrus
Size	First section (BM 10057 ): Length: 295.5 cm (116.3 in); Width: 32 cm (13 in); Second section (BM 10058 ): Length: 199.5 cm (78.5 in); Width: 32 cm (13 in);

The Rhind Mathematical Papyrus (RMP; also designated as papyrus British Museum 10057, pBM 10058, and Brooklyn Museum 37.1784Ea-b) is one of the best known examples of ancient Egyptian mathematics.

It is one of two well-known mathematical papyri, along with the Moscow Mathematical Papyrus. The Rhind Papyrus is larger than the Moscow Mathematical Papyrus, while the latter is older.^[1]

In the papyrus' opening paragraphs Ahmes presents the papyrus as giving "Accurate reckoning for inquiring into things, and the knowledge of all things, mysteries ... all secrets". He continues:

This book was copied in regnal year 33, month 4 of Akhet, under the majesty of the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Awserre, given life, from an ancient copy made in the time of the King of Upper and Lower Egypt Nimaatre. The scribe Ahmose writes this copy.^[2]

Several books and articles about the Rhind Mathematical Papyrus have been published, and a handful of these stand out.^[1] The Rhind Papyrus was published in 1923 by the English Egyptologist T. Eric Peet and contains a discussion of the text that followed Francis Llewellyn Griffith's Book I, II and III outline.^[3] Chace published a compendium in 1927–29 which included photographs of the text.^[4] A more recent overview of the Rhind Papyrus was published in 1987 by Robins and Shute.

^ ^a ^b Spalinger, Anthony (1990). "The Rhind Mathematical Papyrus as a Historical Document". Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur. 17. Helmut Buske Verlag: 295–337. JSTOR 25150159.
^ Cite error: The named reference Clagett was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference peet was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Chace, Arnold Buffum (1979) [1927–29]. The Rhind Mathematical Papyrus: Free Translation and Commentary with Selected Photographs, Translations, Transliterations and Literal Translations. Classics in Mathematics Education. Vol. 8. 2 vols (Reston: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Reprinted ed.). Oberlin: Mathematical Association of America. ISBN 0-87353-133-7.

[Spalinger-1] Spalinger, Anthony (1990). "The Rhind Mathematical Papyrus as a Historical Document". Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur. 17. Helmut Buske Verlag: 295–337. JSTOR 25150159.

[Clagett-2] Cite error: The named reference Clagett was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[peet-3] Cite error: The named reference peet was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Chace,_Arnold_Buffum_1929-4] Chace, Arnold Buffum (1979) [1927–29]. The Rhind Mathematical Papyrus: Free Translation and Commentary with Selected Photographs, Translations, Transliterations and Literal Translations. Classics in Mathematics Education. Vol. 8. 2 vols (Reston: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Reprinted ed.). Oberlin: Mathematical Association of America. ISBN 0-87353-133-7.

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