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Babylonian math problem - Solution

21 Nov 2019

This is the solution to the monthly maths problem from RTSdécouverte Babylonian math problem. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Solution

 

The length of the left side is 1,45 (or 105 in decimal) and the length of the right side is 15.

 

babylonian_graph.jpg

Trapezium [UNIGE - Mathscope]

 

The scribe reasons as follows:

POM_oct19_Sol2.jpg

POM_oct19_Sol3.jpg

POM_oct19_Sol4.jpg

POM_oct19_Sol5.jpg

As to whether the Babylonians knew the Theorem of Thales, that is another story…

 

You can read the original problem here: Babylonian math problem

 

Original RTS Problèmes du mois (FR)

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Monthly maths problem from RTSdécouverte - Babylonian math problem

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