Ancient Egyptian Mathematics Essays - Religion, Egyptian Gods

Ancient Egyptian Mathematics Ancient Egyptian Mathematics The use of organized mathematics in Egypt has been dated back to the third millennium BC. Egyptian mathematics was dominated by arithmetic, with an emphasis on measurement and calculation in geometry. With their vast knowledge of geometry, they were able to correctly calculate the areas of triangles, rectangles, and trapezoids and the volumes of figures such as bricks, cylinders, and pyramids. They were also able to build the Great Pyramid with extreme accuracy. Early surveyors found that the maximum error in fixing the length of the sides was only 0.63 of an inch, or less than 1/14000 of the total length. They also found that the error of the angles at the corners to be only 12", or about 1/27000 of a right angle (Smith 43). Three theories from mathematics were found to have been used in building the Great Pyramid. The first theory states that four equilateral triangles were placed together to build the pyramidal surface. The second theory states that the ratio of one of the sides to half of the height is the approximate value of P, or that the ratio of the perimeter to the height is 2P. It has been discovered that early pyramid builders may have conceived the idea that P equaled about 3.14. The third theory states that the angle of elevation of the passage leading to the principal chamber determines the latitude of the pyramid, about 30o N, or that the passage itself points to what was then known as the pole star (Smith 44). Ancient Egyptian mathematics was based on two very elementary concepts. The first concept was that the Egyptians had a thorough knowledge of the twice-times table. The second concept was that they had the ability to find two-thirds of any number (Gillings 3). This number could be either integral or fractional. The Egyptians used the fraction 2/3 used with sums of unit fractions (1/n) to express all other fractions. Using this system, they were able to solve all problems of arithmetic that involved fractions, as well as some elementary problems in algebra (Berggren). The science of mathematics was further advanced in Egypt in the fourth millennium BC than it was anywhere else in the world at this time. The Egyptian calendar was introduced about 4241 BC. Their year consisted of 12 months of 30 days each with 5 festival days at the end of the year. These festival days were dedicated to the gods Osiris, Horus, Seth, Isis, and Nephthys (Gillings 235). Osiris was the god of nature and vegetation and was instrumental in civilizing the world. Isis was Osiris's wife and their son was Horus. Seth was Osiris's evil brother and Nephthys was Seth's sister (Weigel 19). The Egyptians divided their year into 3 seasons that were 4 months each. These seasons included inundation, coming-forth, and summer. Inundation was the sowing period, coming-forth was the growing period, and summer was the harvest period. They also determined a year to be 365 days so they were very close to the actual year of 365 days (Gillings 235). When studying the history of algebra, you find that it started back in Egypt and Babylon. The Egyptians knew how to solve linear (ax=b) and quadratic (ax2+bx=c) equations, as well as indeterminate equations such as x2+y2=z2 where several unknowns are involved (Dauben). The earliest Egyptian texts were written around 1800 BC. They consisted of a decimal numeration system with separate symbols for the successive powers of 10 (1, 10, 100, and so forth), just like the Romans (Berggren). These symbols were known as hieroglyphics. Numbers were represented by writing down the symbol for 1, 10, 100, and so on as many times as the unit was in the given number. For example, the number 365 would be represented by the symbol for 1 written five times, the symbol for 10 written six times, and the symbol for 100 written three times. Addition was done by totaling separately the units-1s, 10s, 100s, and so forth-in the numbers to be added. Multiplication was based on successive doublings, and division was based on the inverse of this process (Berggren). The original of the oldest elaborate manuscript on mathematics was written in Egypt about 1825 BC. It was called the Ahmes treatise. The Ahmes manuscript was not written to be a textbook, but for use as a practical handbook. It contained material on linear equations of such types as x+1/7x=19 and dealt extensively on unit fractions. It also had a considerable amount of work on mensuration, the act, process, or art of measuring, and includes problems in elementary series (Smith 45-48). The

buy custom HIV Aids essay

buy custom HIV Aids essay HIV Aids has been one of the most feared diseases by the human race. Intense efforts from various medical centers around the globe have all been trials in vain. The disease has been elusive to the human efforts to come up with a way of controlling it. People known to have HIV Aids are known to be stigmatized in fear of contacting the disease. This has often been posed as a problem in the society. This essay examines the ways in which individuals with HIV can be protected and how the community at large can also be protected. The essay in a careful way examines the conditions under which security. The essay integrates this information with the use of four slides having simple language and hard to read. Protecting People with HIV. It has often reported that the protection of the people already suffering from HIV has been a major challenge to most nations. Laws have been enacted to ensure that those who are already contacted do not get to mix up with the rests of the society. Taking care of those already affected is the best way to prevent the continuous spread of HIV Aids. As a matter of fact the disease not being airborne can only be spread by those who already have been contacted. Peple who already have contacted HIV Aids should be empowered to enable them cope with their situation. The following are some of the ways through which individual empowerment can be carried out (Lyons, 2009). Moral Support. Individuals with HIV Aids should be given some morals support. Moral support is quite important as it will assure the victim and him/her to keep on holding into life. There are reported cases especially in underdeveloped nation where people already contacted with HIV Aids spread the disease through having unprotected sex. Moral support and guidance if administered well ca n reduce such patterns. Through guidance victims who have already contacted HIV Aids will see the significance of taking care of their bodies. Apart from moral support, the individuals will also require some financial support (UNAIDS, 2010). Financial Support. People with HIV Aids more often than not require to be financed. This is the case especially in the countries which are developing and whose economies are still young. The finances can be used to buy ARVs. The finances will also be used by the individuals for the provision of a balanced diet. The finances can be provided throughh government bodied or even non governmental bodies (UNAIDS, 2009). The society. There are no specific methods which can be used to protect to protect the society at large. The people in the society should be taken through guidance and counseling and be taught on how they should avoid been contacted with HIV Aids. It should be noted that the best way to protect the society from being affected by the HIV virus. It should also be noted that fighting HIV Aids is a communal activity and therefore the society should come out clearly to protect the victims and embrace those affected by the Virus by supporting them. The society therefore should set up institutions which will be meant to serve those already affected by the HIV virus and as such the society will be protecting itself from contacting the disease (Lyons, 2010). HIV Aids is a disease which has become such a sensitive issue in the society today. To help in curtailing the spread of HIV Aids there is an urgent need to support and offer counseling services to those who have already contacted the disease. The society should take the leading role in coming up with ways that will be used to empower the victims of HIV. Buy custom HIV Aids essay