A matemática do antigo Egito

Abstract

This study analyzes the mathematics of Ancient Egypt, developed approximately between 3000 and 300 BC, emphasizing its numerical foundations, operational methods, and practical applications within its historical context. The Egyptian decimal and non-positional number system is examined, focusing on the use of hieroglyphic and later hieratic symbols employed to record quantities and solve administrative, economic, agricultural, and architectural problems. The main mathematical operations practiced by Egyptian scribes—addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division—are discussed, with particular emphasis on the predominant use of unit fractions, a distinctive feature of Egyptian arithmetic. The method of false position is also analyzed as a procedure for solving problems involving unknown quantities, revealing an efficient proportional reasoning despite the absence of formal algebraic notation. The study demonstrates that, although different from modern mathematical approaches, Egyptian methods exhibited a high degree of sophistication and were well suited to the practical demands of their time. Furthermore, the central role of mathematics in the development of agriculture, state administration, and monumental constructions is highlighted. Finally, the study discusses the pedagogical potential of Ancient Egyptian mathematics as a teaching resource in contemporary mathematics education, contributing to an understanding of mathematics as a historical, dynamic body of knowledge constructed by different civilizations throughout human history.