How Was Math Used In Building The Great Pyramid

Essay by skaterrock99Junior High, 8th gradeA+, April 2004

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Abstract

The Egyptians have had many great wonders. One of these wonders are pyramids. Because this was an ancient wonder, many people believe that the Egyptians didn't use any math but only used logic and reason to build pyramids. If this is true, then how did they build the Great Pyramid? They used simple math to make such a great pyramid. They used the Pythagorean Theorem, trigonometry and simple algebra. They also measured the angle of each direction so that each side of the pyramid was facing exactly north, south, east and west.

(the essay)

"In ancient Egypt mathematics was used for measuring time, straight

lines, the level of the Nile flooding", calculating areas of land, counting

money, working out taxes and cooking. Math was also used in mythology.

The Egyptians had figured out the numbers of days in the year with their

calendar. They were one of the ancient peoples who came close to the

actual year, through their mathematical skills.

Math was also used for

building tombs, pyramids and other architectural marvels. The Egyptian

built one of the seven ancient wonders which was the great pyramid. The

Great Pyramid of Khufu from the Fourth Dynasty was a mathematical

wonder. Not only did it take a long time to build but it involved a lot of

math. This essay shows how the pyramids were built using

math.(Seawright)

"The ancient Egyptians built pyramids as tombs for the pharaohs and

their queens. The pharaohs were buried in pyramids of many different

shapes and sizes from before the beginning of the Old Kingdom to the end

of the Middle Kingdom. There are about eighty pyramids known today from

ancient Egypt. The three largest and best-preserved of these were built at

Giza at the beginning of the Old Kingdom. The most well-known of...