32 A History ofMathematics
- We now have to subtract. This time again, it is more correct to borrow along the line.
However, since you can risk making mistakes quite easily given the number of 0s in the
top row, I will reduce everything to bán. The amount due is 3,834,900 bán, the amount
delivered is 2,353,870 bán; and the deficit is 1,481,030 bán; which is 1,080,000 (1 šar’u) +
3, 240, 000= 3 ×108, 000 (3 šár) + 72, 000= 4 ×18, 000 (4 geš’u) + 3600= 2 × 1800
(2 géš) + 1200= 4 ×300 (4 u) + 210= 7 ×30 (7 gur) + 18= 3 ×6 (3 barig)+2bán.This
agrees with the scribe’s calculation apart from the figures for u and géš.