Ancient Artifacts

Rhind Papyrus

It was named after Alexander Henry Rhind, a Scottish archaeologist and antiquary who bought the scroll in 1858 at Luxor in Egypt. This piece that's half a meter wide by five and a half meters long, has
many pieces missing. In 1992, several of the missing pieces were found in the archives of the New York Historical Society. The scroll encompasses mathematical tables for the calculation of areas and the conversion of fractions, sequences, linear equations, geometric problems, and measurements.

Earliest known symbols in Rhind Papyrus:
Plus Symbol- It is represented by a pair of walking legs toward the number to be added.
Minus Symbol- It is represented by a pair of walking legs away from the number to be subtracted.
Equality Symbol- It is represented by a long oval with a “w” on top.
Unknown Quanity- It is represented by a windmill shape (meaning “heap”).