The oldest known mathematical text is a document usually referred to as the Rhind Papyrus, written sometime around 1650 BC. It is named for the Egyptologist Alexander Rhind who purchased it in Luxor in 1858. It was not deciphered until 1877, when its formal title was discovered to be, "Accurate Reckoning of Entering into Things, Knowledge of Existing Things, Knowledge of All Obscure Secrets." The author, a scribe called Ahmes the Moonborn, stated that the mathematical problems set forth were not of his own devising, that he was in fact transcribing another text that was hundreds of years old even in his time. The Rhind Papyrus is a collection of 85 mathematical word problems written in a cursive form of hieroglyphics called hieratic, on a parchment measuring 18' long by 13" wide.

The Rhind Papyrus appears to be a practical instructional tool, its purpose might have been to train government officials...