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Mayan numeration systemThe Mayan numeration system evolved around A.D. 300. It uses 3 basic numerals to represent any possible number: a dot for one, a horizontal bar for 5, and a conch shell for zero. ![]() Initially, the base used in the Mayan numeration system was base 20 and their place values were 1, 20, 202,203, ... Then, they changed their place values to 1, 20, 20 × 18, 202 × 18, 203× 18, ... Using the base 20, 1, 20, 202,203, ..., we can write 20 as follow: ![]() Still using a base of 20, we can write 100 as follow: ![]() Here is how to represent 2007 ![]() How do we know which number is in what place value?. This is complicated part in the Mayan numeration system Starting from the bottom, a place value must have a number from the list above(1-19) Tease your brain with the following number. What is it? ![]() ![]() The number is: 14 + 7 × 20 + 1 × 202 + 3 × 20 3 + 0 × 20 4 + 15 × 20 5 + 5 × 20 6 The number is 14 + 140 + 1 × 400 + 3 × 8,000 + 0 + 15 × 3,200,000 + 5× 64,000,000 The number is = 14 + 140 + 400 + 24,000 + 0 + 48,000,000 + 320,000,000 = 368024554 With the base 1, 20, 20 × 18, 202 × 18, 203× 18, ... computation is done the exact same way! Group as shown below: ![]() The number is 11 × 1 + 1 × 20 + 10 × 20 × 18 = 11 + 20 + 3600 = 3631 No doubt, the Mayan mumeration system was sophisticated |
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