Innovation No. 16 of 77 in the book
Fractions
The Eye of Horus used as a system for dividing measurements
- When
- c. 1950 BCE
- Dynasty
- 12th Dynasty
- Era
- Middle Kingdom
Egyptians were doing serious arithmetic with fractions by around 1950 BCE, seen first in the Akhmim Wooden Tablet, and later worked out in detail in documents like the famous Rhind Mathematical Papyrus.
Their system was unusual: nearly every fraction was built by adding up unit fractions — 1/2, 1/3, 1/4. Ready-made tables helped scribes split loaves and wages exactly.
A neat legend ties the halving fractions (1/2, 1/4, 1/8…) to the pieces of the sacred Eye of Horus. Historians treat that as a later story, not the true origin — but the math itself was real, and first.
The first people to compute confidently with fractions were Egyptian scribes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the earliest archaeological evidence for fractions in ancient Egypt?
The earliest confirmed evidence dates to approximately 1950 BCE during Egypt's Middle Kingdom (12th Dynasty). Egyptians were doing serious arithmetic with fractions by around 1950 BCE, seen first in the Akhmim Wooden Tablet, and later worked out in detail in documents like the famous Rhind Mathematical Papyrus.
How did ancient Egyptians develop fractions, and what is its legacy?
Their system was unusual: nearly every fraction was built by adding up unit fractions — 1/2, 1/3, 1/4. Ready-made tables helped scribes split loaves and wages exactly. Their system was unusual: nearly every fraction was built by adding up unit fractions — 1/2, 1/3, 1/4. Ready-made tables helped scribes split loaves and wages exactly. The first people to compute confidently with fractions were Egyptian scribes.