Egyptian Mathematics OpenCourseWare: A Free Undergraduate Egyptian Mathematics Class by The Open University

Published Feb 12, 2009

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There has always been a fascination with the Egyptian civilization which came into existence more than 3000 years before the birth of Jesus Christ. Egypt has always been seen as a hotbed of intelligence and information regarding numerous disciplines including medicine, irrigation, pyramid calculations and mathematics. 'Egyptian Mathematics' is a free OpenCourseWare from The Open University that examines Egyptian mathematics and the how historians learned what we now know about the subject. The course is intended for undergraduate students interested in world history and mathematics.

Egyptian Mathematics: Course Specifics

Degree Level Free Audio Video Downloads
Undergraduate Yes No No Yes

Lectures/Notes Study Materials Tests/Quizzes
Yes Yes No

Egyptian Mathematics: Course Description

The earliest known Egyptian system of numbers was a base ten scheme of numerical hieroglyphs that consisted of a distinct symbol for units, tens, hundreds, thousands and so on. These numerical hieroglyphs are depicted on temples, stone shrines and decorative items scattered all over the globe. 'Egyptian Mathematics,' a free OpenCourseWare that is provided by The Open University's Arts and History Department, examines the Rhind Papyrus and Moscow Papyrus that detail mathematical calculations that were performed as far back as 1850 B.C. The calculations were written in a form of Egyptian writing called 'hieratic,' which succeeded hieroglyphs because it was more conducive for writing on papyrus. Students who complete this course will study Egyptian calculations, math problems faced by ancient Egyptians and will learn more about the different papyri analyzed by historians. The undergraduate-level course also helps students to develop an understanding of the Egyptian methods for manipulating fractions and the relationship between Egyptian mathematics and Babylonian mathematics.

The materials for this course is comprised of online unit notes. Students can also downloaded the course in several formats and take advantage of tools like a learning journal, discussion forum and a knowledge map to enhance their learning experience. If you are interested in taking this course, visit the Egyptian mathematics course page.

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