The numerical and metrological systems adopted in MesoCalc reflect the standard of Old Babylonian scribal schools (see ‘Numbers and Metrology’ in cdli:wiki). MesoCalc automates the basic operations that were performed routinely in mathematical and economic activities in Mesopotamia. It computes in sexagesimal place-value notation, operates on measures, and converts dates. MesoCalc is a Mesopotamian calculator created by Baptiste Mélès. The conclusion underlines the mathematical work that some ancient erudite scribes accomplished in order to emancipate them from the world of elementary education. The first example (CBS 1215) deals with the extraction of reciprocals by factorization the second (CBS 12648) deals with volume problems using coefficients. Then, I discuss two mathematical texts in detail and show how they can be interpreted using the tools that were taught to (or invented by) their authors or users. First, I outline some characteristics of the mathematics taught in elementary education, drawing mainly from sources found in Nippur. I propose to examine the content of the garbage from these schools to access the "internal meanings" of advanced mathematical texts. The sources considered are mathematical texts from scribal schools that flourished in the Ancient Land of Sumer. In this chapter, I suggest an analysis of mathematical texts based on notions, concepts and tools that were instilled during their early education in scholars who were active in Southern Mesopotamia during the Old Babylonian period (early second millennium BCE).
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