Anthony Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> MJ Thomas 2 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> > Anthony Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
> > > Tell me, what is the only mathematical calculation
> > > relating to a pyramid that we find in Egyptian
> > > formula texts?
> >
> > Anthony is of course alluding to the seked (the
> > ratio: 1 royal cubit rise to X palms run).
> > The seked was used in the determination of a
> > pyramid's height and length of base, with the
> > gradient of the faces being incidental to them.
> > It is assumed that the seked was also used for the
> > determination of the rise and run of sloping
> > passages - if memory serves, there is no example
> > of this in any of the Egyptian Mathematical
> > Papyri.
> >
> > But Anthony appears to have overlooked the
> > Pyramid's passages and chambers and their various
> > features.
> > From these things it is obvious that other
> > mathematical calculations were used in the
> > designing of the Pyramid's interior, i.e. at least
> > basic arithmetic (addition, subtraction,
> > multiplication, and division) and rectilinear
> > geometry - and basic arithmetic and rectilinear
> > geometry are major features in the Egyptian
> > Mathematical Papyri.
> > So, contrary to Anthony's allusion, the seked is
> > not "the only mathematical calculation relating to
> > a pyramid that we find in Egyptian formula
> > texts".
> >
>
>
> Yes, well, it appears you wish that is what I had
> said, which is why you put the words in my mouth,
> creating statements I never made so you could then
> prove them wrong.
> I asked a question about mathematical calculations
> that were related directly to pyramids, as
> evidenced by the culture in question. In fact,
> this is exactly what I wrote, with its preceding
> sentence included for context:
> Quote: Only if one assumes, I repeat, ASSUMES,
> that the maths were the goal and not a simple tool
> used to quickly convey instructions, or calculate
> the amount of stone required.
>
> Tell me, what is the only mathematical calculation
> relating to a pyramid that we find in Egyptian
> formula texts?
> Everything else was your assumption, made despite
> what I had said on the subject, not as a result of
> its consideration.
>
> Thanks for providing a learning opportunity to the
> lurkers.
Anthony wrote: “Tell me, what is the
only mathematical calculation relating to a pyramid that we find in Egyptian formula texts?”
The answer is, of course, the seked.
I pointed out that the seked is not “the only mathematical calculation relating to a pyramid that we find in Egyptian formula texts”, because arithmetic and rectilinear geometry were used in the planning of the pyramid’s passages and chambers, and arithmetic and rectilinear geometry figure large in the EMP.
If this is putting words in Anthony’s mouth, and creating statements he never made so I could then prove him wrong, then perhaps he would care to now explain what exactly he meant by his rhetorical (as I see it) question: “what is the
only mathematical calculation relating to a pyramid that we find in Egyptian formula texts?”
MJ
note: emphasis added
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/22/2009 02:49PM by MJ Thomas 2.