Hi Kanga,

If it wasn't for the incremental differences of cubits brought about by that pesky inch and/or meter measurements applied to the cubit this would not even be a topic of conversation.
In our world it only stands to reason we look for and employ terms like pi, phi, sqrt2, sqrt3 or sqrt5, along with decimals and angles since it is what we were trained to do. Regarding the Ancient Egyptians not so much: these concepts do not relate to Ancient Egypt.

It's not the way Ancient Egyptians were trained. According to all available records they were trained in a system of fractions, unit fractions, cubits, palms, digits, seked and binary multiplication and division. Therein lies the problem. Save for a few there is a very limited comprehension of the concepts, principles and elements put forth by Ancient Egyptians methods.

The Ancient Egyptians by the use of unit fractions could not express mathematically our concepts of pi, phi, sqrt2, sqrt3 or sqrt5, are any irrational numbers It therefore stands to reason if they were unable to express these values mathematically how could they possibly be used in calculations, designs or constructions. Fact, the sqrt 2 is inherent in any square as pi is inherent in any circle knowledge of either is not required for the completion of the task.

All speculation and all other measuring systems aside and using only the cubit rod as a unit of measure what do we really know about the mathematics of these structures?

[upload.wikimedia.org]
[upload.wikimedia.org]

I am convinced there is no other way to truly comprehend the mindset of the Ancient Egyptians but through their known tools of fractions, unit fractions, cubits, palms, digits, seked and the Eye of Horace series 1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 + 1/16 + 1/32 + 1/64 system of binary multiplication and division. For me it is the only way to get inside their heads, mathematically speaking. Mathematics is a universal language only if the the same tools used at encryption are used for decryption.

Maybe it is time to set aside the inch, meter, pi, phi, sqrt2, sqrt3 or sqrt5 and any other modern mathematical concept and actually concentrate on those employed by the Ancient Egyptians.

I don't look for this to happen anytime soon, speculation is too much fun. :-)

Actual fact finding is too much like work.

Regards,
Jacob