To expand search, see Arithmetic. Laterally related topics: Number Systems, Numerology, Magic Squares, Bookkeeping, Modular Arithmetic, Algorithms, Logarithms, The Number Concept, The Abacus, Exponentials, Interpolation, Zero, The Real Number System, Irrationals, The Extraction of Roots, Mental Arithmetic, The Negative Numbers, and Imaginary and Complex Numbers.
The Mathematics and the Liberal Arts pages are intended to be a resource for student research projects and for teachers interested in using the history of mathematics in their courses. Many pages focus on ethnomathematics and in the connections between mathematics and other disciplines. The notes in these pages are intended as much to evoke ideas as to indicate what the books and articles are about. They are not intended as reviews. However, some items have been reviewed in Mathematical Reviews, published by The American Mathematical Society. When the mathematical review (MR) number and reviewer are known to the author of these pages, they are given as part of the bibliographic citation. Subscribing institutions can access the more recent MR reviews online through MathSciNet.
Gillings, R. J. Problems 1 to 6 of the Rhind Mathematical Papyrus. Mathematics Teacher 56 (1962), 61--69.
Discusses problems 1-6 of the Rhind Mathematical Papyrus (or Ahmes Papyrus), where 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, and finally 9 loaves of bread are divided among 10 men. The results are given in terms of unit fractions (if you include 2/3 as a unit fraction). Gillings gives pictures of each of the divisions, and argues convincingly that the division of bread would generally appear to be more fair to the typical (presumably uneducated) ancient Egyptian laborer than a more modern division would be. This is because each laborer would get pieces of both the same number and size, at least if you consider two 1/3 pieces as being the same number and size as one 1/3 piece. (Although Gillings doesn't discuss this, this latter problem could be resolved by replacing 2/3 with 1/2+1/6. This, however, would increase the number of cuts.) Reprinted in Swetz, Frank J., From Five Fingers to Infinity. Closely related topic: Ancient Egypt.
Sizer, Walter S. Mathematical notions in preliterate societies. Math. Intelligencer 13 (1991), no. 4, 53--60. (Reviewer: U. D'Ambrosio.) SC: 01A07 (01A12 01A13), MR: 93a:01002.
The author discusses the ethnomathematics of nonliterate societies. There is little detail, as the article is rather brief, but the author does mention the number concept and counting, fractions (very briefly), elementary geometric notions (e.g., that of a line), symmetry, string figures, and games of strategy. One note on the article: there are strong similarities behind the mathematics in different parts of the world. There is a theory that this similarity is due to a common origin. The author credits Cantor for this idea. It was first fully developed, however, by Abraham Seidenberg. Closely related topics: Ethnomathematics General, The Number Concept, Geometry, Symmetry, Games, and String Figures. Also possibly relevant: Abraham Seidenberg.