Different Numerical Systems 

Babylonian

The Babylonians, who lived in Mesopotamia (3500BC), have one of the oldest known number systems known of all time. The mathematicians, astronomers and early renaissance men Nabu-rimanni and Kidinu are said to have created Babylonian number system. 

Babylonian system

Babylonian Number system

  • The Babylonian number system included no zero, but did have a space indicating a numerical value that had no value
  • The numbers consist of various lines and triangles that represent different values, called cuneiform 
  • Since the  numerical system was base 60, the Babylonians are where we derive our time system from. The time system involved each day being 24 hours, each hour being 60 minutes and each minutes being 60 seconds.  
  • The numerical system was one of the only base 60 systems to exist

Mayan Numerical System

The Mayans, who thrived in current day Mexico(2000BC-200AD) acquired and combined preceding numerical systems to create the base 20 numerical system used in regular Mayan culture and script. The system is used in the Mayan calendar, which we created our current day calendar with.  

Mayan number system

  • The base 20 Mayan system was used in the Mayan calendar 
  • The numerical system was created by many different Mayans over the duration that they thrived and it developed through script as time passed.

Roman Numerical System

The roman numerical system, which is  used often in modern society for uses such as marking clocks, naming sporting events, and legal document marking, uses different arrangements of I,V, and X to represent different values. I represents 1, V represents 5, and X represents   10. Other letters are used to represent larger numbers. The base 10 system was derived by various Romans from the Etruscan numeral system.

Roman Numeral System

Note: When writing roman numerals, to reach numbers that are not directly listed as letters you have to put other numbers in front or behind each other to add or subtract to get the number desired. For example, the number 7, while not listed as a letter, can be written as VII because 5+1+1=7

Greek Numeral System

The Greek Numeral System uses their alphabet system to make their number system. The system is based on the base 10 system. Base 10 is the number system we use. The units 1-9 are represented with Greek letters. These letters range from Alpha to Theta, which we use in our math system commonly. (ie. Theta to show degree measures etc.). Also chemists use alpha beta and gama to name different particles 

Fun Fact!

Frats use Greek numerals such as alpha and beta to represent and name themselves 

Why should you even care?

  • Many things from our customary base-10 system are derived from these old numeral systems (such as zero) 
  • Many symbols and letters like alpha, beta, theta and other symbols can be found in modern day mathematics to represent variables and various other things.
  • AND if you don't care about any of the above than many of the computers and programs you use on phones and computers alike were coded with at least some of the things found in these number systems. This includes things such as coding using switches represented as 1 or 0

Citations 

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