The Rhind Mathematical Papyrus is the oldest textbook of its sort in the world. Found in Thebes in the 1850s it dates back in its origins to the age of the great pyramid-builders. The ancient Egyptians were superb arithmeticians, with enough understanding of geometry and trigonometry to make their architectural triumphs possible. Their work was later to inspire the more theoretical achievements of the Greeks. From the papyrus we learn how young pupils were subjected to a rigorous training in the manipulation of numbers that enabled the fully- fledged scribe to control not only the design and construction of huge monuments but also the more mundane activities of everyday life. Some of their methods are similar to those of today; others have been superseded but nevertheless retain a fascination of their own. Scholars still argue as to how the Egyptians obtained certain of their results: the authors provide a number of new interpretations and set out controversial matters so that the reader can decide for himself.
The Rhind Mathematical Papyrus (RMP; also designated as papyrus British Museum 10057 and pBM 10058) is one of the best known examples of Ancient Egyptian mathematics. It is named after Alexander Henry Rhind, a Scottish antiquarian, who purchased the papyrus in 1858 in Luxor, Egypt; it was apparently found during illegal excavations in or near the Ramesseum. It dates to around 1550 BC. The British Museum, where the majority of papyrus is now kept, acquired it in 1865
The Rhind Mathematical Papyrus dates to the Second Intermediate Period of Egypt. It was copied by the scribe Ahmes (i.e., Ahmose; Ahmes is an older transcription favoured by historians of mathematics), from a now-lost text from the reign of king Amenemhat III (12th dynasty). Written in the hieratic script, this Egyptian manuscript is 33 cm (13 in) tall and consists of multiple parts which in total make it over 5 m (16 ft) long. The papyrus began to be transliterated and mathematically translated in the late 19th century. The mathematical translation aspect remains incomplete in several respects. The document is dated to Year 33 of the Hyksos king Apophis and also contains a separate later historical note on its verso likely dating from the period ("Year 11") of his successor, Khamudi.