So I just found two videos on YouTube, one of which is an excerpt from another video I've been watching, on Egyptian mathematics, which makes use of the binary system that is also used in our computers. I'm guessing several people here probably already know about this, but I wanted to share it in case there are other people who don't. It's a very simple system, and I think it could really help people make better use of mathematics, in their every day lives.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ih1ZWE3pe9o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiO2vhJBHPw
One example that was given, was 1075 divided by 25. In order to work that out, with the system given here, you'd draw two columns, one of which follows the binary sequence. I truthfully haven't known about the binary sequence for very long, but I only recently discovered it, as part of the FORTH/Lua programming I was doing within Minecraft.
It's funny how synchronicity seems to work. I've started to feel that my purpose is to work out how old forms of technology can be applied to environmental (and therefore social) reclamation, via things like permaculture; but I've also noticed that something which I'll learn from programming will help me with something else, seemingly unrelated in permaculture, and vice versa.
I feel that another large part of my own purpose, is to try and popularise a lot of these sorts of things, and make sure as many people as possible learn about them. So I am motivated by a very strong desire to plunder the proverbial temple, and not purely for my own benefit.
Using this method, I was able to also figure out a simpler example than the ones given in the video; 12 x 2 = 24. I wrote out the two columns to do this:-
0 1
0 2
1 4
1 8
0 16
The number 12 consists of 4 + 8, so both the 4 and 8 circuits are on. (Binary works by having these fields either on, signified by 1, or off, signified by 0)
From there, I simply add those three numbers together. 12 + 4 = 16, + 8 = 24.
As another related point, von Daniken was able to experimentally prove that the light bulb design shown in the temple of Hathor at Dendara, actually functions, as shown here, excerpted from a History Channel program on ancient technology.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTFsPnUddA8
The reason why I mention this, is because the use of a binary number system, strongly implies use of electricity by Egyptian society. Binary is simple once you grasp it, yes; but it is not intuitive. A more primitive society would likely stick to either an abacus or pebbles, etc.
Given this, I am strongly inclined to believe that ancient Egypt was an electrically capable society; and from looking into the subject of the Pyramids, I believe that a strong case can be made, that the Great Pyramid of Cheops, was in fact a functional power station, or electrical generator.
petrus4, ;D, I haven't watched the videos yet, but your example doesn't give much encouragement that this is a more simple system. 12 x 2 =24..........just don't get much simpler than that. Now, if this does great things with multiple composition numbers, then great.
But then, calculators work pretty simply, for large numbers. I will watch the videos, since you suggest they are worthwhile. ;)
Quote from: rdunk on August 12, 2012, 12:34:10 AM
petrus4, ;D, I haven't watched the videos yet, but your example doesn't give much encouragement that this is a more simple system. 12 x 2 =24..........just don't get much simpler than that.
It was an intentionally brain dead example, while I was trying to get the overall principle understood. One of my own favourite principles where engineering is concerned, or at least the programming I've done is,
"Thou shalt not prototype under load." ;)
Watch part 2 if you want hard stuff. He definitely demonstrates that it's possible to get horribly complicated, if you want to.
Quote from: petrus4 on August 12, 2012, 12:19:28 AM
The reason why I mention this, is because the use of a binary number system, strongly implies use of electricity by Egyptian society.
No, it does not.
A binary system can be used with any thing that has two states, like a full/empty cup, a open/closed box, etc., I count in binary with my fingers (I even tell other people that they can count up to 1024 with the fingers from both hands instead of counting just up to 20 :) ), and binary is closer to geometric (area) calculations.
I suggest a look at this page (http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/HistTopics/Egyptian_papyri.html), where they also explain how Egyptians worked with fractions. :)