Small numerical variations in a set of similar problems from Nippur on the area of the square
Résumé
This study is based on a set of six tablets dated to the Old-Babylonian period in Mesopotamia, written in cuneiform script, and relating to problems on the areas of squares. Their content is very similar, except for the length measurement of the side of the square. The issue of hypothetical pedagogical issues involved in the choice of numerical values in the statements is addressed by detailing the tasks they imply in the process of problem solving.