Gems from the Rhind Mathematical Papyrus

From: Franz Gnaedinger circle@access.ch
Date: 14 Mar 1998
Time: 03:28:40
Remote Name: 129.132.73.70

Comments

Dear readers,

is anyone of you interested in the Rhind Mathematical Papyrus? Here is a fine example. In no. 32, Ahmes divides 2 by 1 1/3 1/4 or simply 1 '3 '4 and obtains 1 '6 '12 '114 '228. Let us use these numbers as measurements of a right parallelepiped: height 2 cubits, length 1 '3 '4 cubits, width 1 '6 '12 '114 '228 cubits. How long are the diagonals of this right parallelepiped? Simply 1 '3 '4 cubits plus 1 '6 '12 '114 '228 cubits = 1 1 plus '3 '6 plus '4 '12 plus '114 '228 cubits = 2 '2 '3 '76 cubits. - MAGIC PARALLELEPIPEDS: divide 2 by any number a, thus you obtain b. Use the numbers 2, a and b as the measurements of a right parallelepiped. The diagonals of your parallelepiped will be a plus b units and the volume 4 cube units. - If you like to read more about the RMP, please contact me. - Regards, Franz Gnaedinger, Zurich.