Ancient Egyptian Algebra

The ancient Egyptian civilization stands as one of humanity's greatest intellectual achievements, not merely for its monumental architecture but for its sophisticated mathematical innovations. Among these contributions, the development of algebraic thinking represents a profound leap in human cognition—the ability to manipulate abstract quantities and solve for unknown values. This essay examines the evolution of algebra in ancient Egypt, particularly focusing on the civilization's approach to first- and second-degree equations, as preserved in key mathematical papyri spanning from approximately 1850 to 1650 BC.

DR. DAHLIA SAAD EL-DIN