Question

Problem number 26 of the Rhind Papyrus says: Find a quantity such that when it is added to of itself the result is a 15. The modern day equation that models this problem is x + x = 15.

Answer 1

Answer:  The required quantity is 7.5.

Step-by-step explanation:  We are given to solve the following problem by Rhind Papyrus :

To find a quantity such that when it is added to itself, the result is a 15.

Let x represents the required quantity. Then, the modern day equation that models this problem will be

$x+x=15~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(i)$

The solution of equation (i) is as follows :

$x+x=15\\\\\Rightarrow 2x=15\\\\\Rightarrow x=\dfrac{15}{2}\\\\\Rightarrow x=7.5.$

Thus, the required quantity is 7.5.

Answer 2

X+x=15  combine like terms on left side

2x=15  divide both sides by 2

x=7.5