assumed by Borchardt (page 16) so as to agree with a result of the Rhind papyrus! We have seen that Petrie’s mean value here, available when Borchardt wrote, is 55° 1′.
1922
Borchardt, L., Gegen die Zahlenmystik an der grossen Pyramide bei Gise. Vortrag gehalten in der Vorderasiatisch-dgyptischen Gesellschaft zu Berlin am I. February, 1922. Berlin, 1922, 40 pp.
Of considerable interest in connection with the study of problems 57–60 of the Rhind papyrus. There is a critical survey of literature in this connection, such as listed in Roeber (1854), and Jarolimek (1910). Compare Borchardt (1893).
Crum, W. E., and Bell, H. I., editors, Wadi Saga, Coptic and Greek Texts from the Excavations undertaken by the Byzantine Research Account (Coptica Consilio et imprensis Instituti Rask-Oerstediani edita, vol. 3), Copenhagen, 1922.
"Matl1ematical," nos. 22-28, pp. 53~57. Nos. 22-23 contain multiplication tables 6×I=6,6×2=12, . . .,and 7×1=7, 7×2= 14, . . . each up to 10; Compare the table in Crum (1905). Nos. 24-26 contain the results of expressing 1⁄7 and 1⁄11 of various numbers from 1 to 9; the results are identical with those given in the Akhmim papyrus, Baillet (1892), pp. 26-29. No. 27 contains the results of 1⁄23 of 11, 1⁄49 of 7, 1⁄7 of 7, and of 8, and of 9. Nos. 22-28 are included in Papyrus 2241 of the British Museum.
Gadd, C. J., "Forms and colours. I. Forms," Revue d’Assyriolagie et d'Archéologie Orientale, vol. 19, 1922, pp. 149—158.
An important contribution to our knowledge of Babylonian geometry of about 2000 B.C. It deals with a large fragment 22.3 x 15.2 cm., no. 15285, in the British Museum. In the second paragraph of the article the author states very emphatically that the “purpose of these geometrical constructions was to facilitate the surveying or parcelling out of land." I learn (I) that this statement was mainly based on a word in each problem translated as "field;" and (2) that the author now thinks that the translation “area" is also possible, and indeed preferable in this document.
Of the figures, six are practically perfect on the tablet while for two others, of great interest, sufficient is given to indicate what the completed figures were. These figures certainly suggest that the Babylonians were interested in a geometry which might be the basis of designs. (a) A square is divided into 16 squares, (b) into four equal isosceles right triangles, and (c) into eight such triangles. (d) A square is inscribed in a square and (e) a third square is inscribed in this. (f) A circle is inscribed in a square and (g) part of another figure is made up of four arcs of circles forming a figure somewhat resembling a "four-cusped" hypocycloid. (h) Another figure involves arcs of three tangent and three intersecting circles within a square.
The exact drawings of the printed text do not in any wise misrepresent
