[IshKebab]

> algebraic notation != algebra

Ha where did you get that crazy idea?

> The Berlin Papyrus 6619 (from 2000-1786 BC Egypt) uses prose

Just because it's prose doesn't mean it isn't algebra. For example "If you square the lengths of the two shorter sides together and add them up it equals the length of the square of the length of the longer side". That's just algebra with words.

The thing that makes algebra algebra is that you use variables, not constants. "the length of the longer side" is just a wordy variable.