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Rhind Mathematical Papyrus
Thebes, Egypt, end of the Second Intermediate
Period, around 1550 BC
A number of documents have survived that
allow us insight into the ancient Egyptians' approach to
mathematics. This papyrus is the most extensive.
It is not a theoretical treatise, but a list of practical
problems encountered in administrative and building works. The text
contains 84 problems concerned with numerical operations,
practical problem-solving, and geometrical shapes.
The majority of literate Egyptians were scribes and they were
expected to undertake various tasks. These must have demanded some
mathematical as well as writing skills.
The Rhind Mathematical Papyrus is also important as a historical
document, since the copyist noted that he was writing in year 33 of
the reign of Apophis, the penultimate king of the Hyksos Fifteenth
Dynasty (about 1650-1550 BC) and was copied after an original of
the Twelfth Dynasty (about 1985-1795 BC).
On the other side of the papyrus 'year 11' is mentioned, with a
reference to the taking of some Egyptian towns. This probably
refers to the fighting between the Egyptians and the Hyksos before
the beginning of the New Kingdom (1550-1070 BC). However, it is not
certain to which king 'year 11' refers.
The papyrus was acquired by the Scottish lawyer A.H. Rhind
during his stay in Thebes in the 1850s.
Ancient Egypt
