Summer of Math Exposition

This video explores the origins of algebra through two remarkable ancient methods, offering motivation for what it really means to “solve for X” or find the unknown in math class. This practice stretches back thousands of years. In Egypt, scribes solved practical problems using the method of false position, cleverly adjusting guesses to reach the answer. In Babylon, mathematicians recorded quadratic equations on clay tablets and solved them through geometry, an early form of completing the square. The video visualizes these problem-solving techniques with engaging animation and adapts the ancient methods into the language of modern mathematics, helping students connect their study of linear and quadratic equations to their deep historical roots. These approaches reveal the ingenuity of early problem solvers and how their ideas shaped the mathematics we still use today. Audience: High school and undergraduate students studying algebra, educators looking for historical context of the subject they teach, and anyone curious about the history of mathematics and human problem-solving.