The Mathematical Practice in Ancient Egypt. A Rereading of Problem 10 from Moscow Mathematical Papyrus

Abstract

Mathematics, as a social and cultural construct, is not an ahistorical and enduring entity, but is subject to developments and vicissitudes of human communities from which they arose. Therefore, for its historiographical reconstruction, the task of interpretation of the historian is necessary. In this paper, we propose an interpretation of mathematics in Ancient Egypt based in the theoretical assumptions of cultural history and anthropology of mathematics, which together characterize the research program of Ethnomathematics. For this, we will take as a documentary source of reference to Moscow Mathematical Papyrus. Given the great diversity of problems that arise there, we will focus on one particular type: No. 10, concerning the calculation of the area of a solid figure that in the Egyptian language is designated as nbt.