Calculating the daily bread: rations in theory and practice

This article discusses the handling of rations in Middle Kingdom Egypt (2119–1794/93 BC) as it is displayed in three types of texts: mathematical problem texts, administrative ration texts (‘real’ ration texts), and literary texts. The example of handling rations is used to examine the relation between mathematical problem texts which served according to the opinio communis to educate scribes and administrative texts, the actual documents from the professional life of scribes. Using one specific example, the use of a mathematical technique from the problem texts within a ration text is demonstrated. The presentation is complemented by passages from literary texts referring to rations.