Thursday, June 20, 2013
Multiplying the Ancient Egyptian Way
The ancient Egyptians developed a simple doubling method to multiply large numbers.
Read the article from Highlights Magazine, Fast Math in Ancient Egypt, to find out how:
http://www.highlightskids.com/science-experiment/fast-math-ancient-egypt
Do you think the ancient Egyptian way of multiplying is always an efficient strategy for two digit numbers? What about three digit numbers? Explain your thinking.
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No,I do not think the ancient Egyptian way is always efficient.Here are some details to support my thinking,one when we did it in class it took about four minutes but Gabby`s way took about two.Also some peoples ways took the same amount of time.But this only apply`s to the strategy for three digit numbers,for two digit numbers it is more efficient than the regular way for example when we did this in class the ancient Egyptian way was faster than the regular way.This shows that the ancient Egyptian way is not always the more efficient strategy.
ReplyDeletei think it is efficient for the 2 digit numbers because it is only 3 equations but for the three digit equation it feels really long when you can do a equation that takes about 5 minutes then 20 minutes. And thats how the three digit is not an efficient way.
ReplyDeleteI want to add on to keel because 2 digit number is more easy and efficient and faster if it was 3 digit number it would be harder because in school It was difficult because was a three digit number but when gabby was up it took 4 minutes like keel said it always will be efficient.
ReplyDeleteI think it is an efficient way to multiply.I know this because usually, ( in the English-way )to multiply a three digit number it is usually a
ReplyDeletemulti-step problem, instead, ( in the Egyptian way )you can make it one step and you won't have to do anything.- sebastian seitz
I think that the Egyptian three digit strategy works efficiently because it doesn't take long. Also it is quicker than the distributive property and comines equations.
ReplyDeleteI think it is a good way to multiply numbers because it doesn't take a long time to solve the problem. When there are hard problems you can use the egyptian way and make it easier for you to do it. I like using this strategy because it is fun to do it.
ReplyDeleteI do not think the ancient Egyptian way of multiplying is efficient for 2 or 3 digit numbers because in the class it took quite a long time.There is more efficient ways.But it still can help you in math.
ReplyDeleteI think the Egyptian way for multiplying is an efficient way for three digit numbers, because it's faster then other ways like Distributive property.Also it's good to have a visual representation.There were no calculators when the Egyptians invented this.
ReplyDeleteI think the egypt method is more efficient for 3 digit and over numbers because the 1 and 2 digit numbers are easier to multiply in your head
ReplyDeleteThe anciet egyptian to muliply is cumfusing for me .
ReplyDeleteand three digit number is very hard ,it is good for egyptians and hard for me.
I think the ancient Egyptian way is not as efficient for 3 digit numbers when multiplying. I think this because on the homework it was impossible to get the right answer. For 2 digit numbers it is easier than a multiplication algorithm. But it takes longer.
ReplyDeleteI think the 2 digit numbers are efficient. This is because in class the Egyptian way was a lot faster than Lars's way.I don't think 3 digit numbers are efficient. This is because 3 digit number are so big and a lot of people can't add that large numbers. So I think 2 digit numbers in the Egyptian way is efficient,but not the 3 digit numbers.
ReplyDeleteI think there are more efficient ways, like vertical multiplication (but 3- digit is hard!!!!!) I know this because I can do vertical in two minutes. Also in class it took forever to finish one problem!!!!!!/Users/annthibodeau/Desktop/Photo 27.jpg
ReplyDeleteBy GianCarlo
ReplyDeleteI think the Egyptian way of multiplying is efficient for both two and three digit numbers.
Me and my Dad investigated how many operations it would take to solve (999x999) using the traditional way and the ancient Egyptian way. The Egyptian way used fewer operations than the traditional way. We needed to do 10 doublings (additions) up to 1024 in the left column. Then we needed to do one subtraction and three additions (1024-32+4+2+1 = 999). This totaled 14 operations all additions or subtractions. Then we used the traditional way it required 9 multiplications and 8 additions. A total of 17 operations. The traditional way required 3 more operations than the Egyptian way. The operations in the Egyptian way are also easier because it only uses additions and subtractions. This is why the Egyptian way is more efficient.
We did a similar investigation for (99x99). The traditional way had fewer operations, six in total (3 multiplications and 3 additions). The Egyptian way had 9 operations in total. But it was still easier because it only had subtraction and addition operations.
H,@;%.
DeleteYes, I think the ancient Egyptian way of multiplying is an efficient strategy for two digit numbers because the two digits were easier to add and multiply and the three digit numbers are harder to add and multiply. Also, the more digits you have the more challenging it is.
ReplyDelete