The Maya The Maya Civilization Civilization

Around 2600 B.C-XVI in Central America

Pre-Columbian Civilization

Southeast of Mexico

West of Honduras and Salvador

North of Belize and Guatemala

Writing Writing

They were the first to implant a writing system that represents the spoken

language of their community.

Agriculture Agriculture

Economy based on Agriculture

Maya means :those who cultivate the corn

No metal tools

ScienceScience•Astronomy development

•Development of Matematics tools to calculate the movement in the sky notably the moon and sun.

•Master the 0 numeral

•Solar year very precised times is counted in days, period of 20 days, in years of 360 days

THE MAYAN NUMERATIONTHE MAYAN NUMERATIONTHE MAYAN NUMERATIONTHE MAYAN NUMERATION

Pure Vigesimal system for counting objects

Modified Vigesimal system for days

3 signs are used to write the numbers

• 1

5

0

• •2

••7

Numeration is additive from 1 to

19

2 ways of writing it…

• NO SPECIFIC SYMBOLS FOR NUMBER GREATER THAN 19 INSTEAD… SYSTEM OF POSITION

The Maya were not using the same system to count objects and numbers….

Objects Unit of Time

20x20x20x20

20x20x20

20x20

20

1

20x18x20x20

20x18x20

20x18

20

1

Counting from 20…Counting from 20…Numeration is one of POSITION

Every number more than 20 needs to be decomposed into the sum of powers of 20

EX : 21= 20x1 +1 79=20x3+19

If a number is more than 20 than we need to write it on a vertical column.

The position of the number determined its value

We read the number from top to bottom and the power of 20 decreases.

Think of floors

•The 2nd floor is a multiple of 20

First floor

Second Floor

••

1 x 20

1

1 x 20 + 1 =

21

••••••• 3 x20

19

793 x 20 + 19 =

•The 3rd floor is a multiple of 360 (18x20)=360

12 x 18 x 20

0 x 205

12 x 18 x 20 + (0 x 20) + 5 =

4325

•The 4th floor or a multiple of 18x20x20=7200

15x18x20x20=108000

4x18x20=1440

7x20=140

10

109590

Quizz !!!

1. Convert 25 into the Mayan System

25

Quizz !!!

1. Convert 25 into the Mayan System

25•

2) Convert the following Maya number into a normal number

• •

?

2) Convert the following Maya number into a normal number

• •

350

3) Convert the number into a Mayan Number

19578

19578=14400 +5040+120+18 =(2 x 7200)+ (14 x 360) +(6x20) +18

4th Floor

3th Floor

2th Floor

1th Floor

19578=14400 +5040+120+18 =(2 x 7200)+ (14 x 360) +(6x20) +18

• • • • •

• •

18

6x20

14x18x20

2x18x20x20

• • •