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Aristotle
Why do all men, barbarians and
Greek alike, count up to ten andnot up to any other number?
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Why do we use 10 digits? (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9)
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Why do we use 10 digits? (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9)
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We use what is a called a base 10 number system, more commonly
known as the decimal system (deci- means tenth).
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All Indo-European languages (English, French, Bengali, Greek,
Sanskrit, etc.), all Semitic languages (Arabic, Hebrew, etc.) and most
primitive languages use a base ten number system.
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In all these languages, there are independent number words up to
ten, beyond which some compounding principle is used until 100 is
reached.
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ITALIAN:
11: undici
12: dodici
13: tredici14: quattrodici
15: quindici
24: ventiquattro
25: venticinque
85: ottantacinque
95: novantacinque
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ARABIC:
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ARABIC:
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KOREAN:
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KOREAN:
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ENGLISH?
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ENGLISH?
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ENGLISH?
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ENGLISH?
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ENGLISH?
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OTHER NUMBER SYSTEMSOTHER NUMBER SYSTEMS
Not all civilizations used a base 10 number system.
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OTHER NUMBER SYSTEMSOTHER NUMBER SYSTEMS
The Mayan civilization made great
strides in the development of written
language, mathematics, agriculture,
astronomy, and architecture.
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OTHER NUMBER SYSTEMSOTHER NUMBER SYSTEMS
The Mayans used three symbols to
represent the first 20 numbers
(starting at 0 instead of 1).
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OTHER NUMBER SYSTEMSOTHER NUMBER SYSTEMS
The Mayans used three symbols to
represent the first 20 numbers
(starting at 0 instead of 1).
This base 20 system is known as a
vigesimal numeral system.
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OTHER NUMBER SYSTEMSOTHER NUMBER SYSTEMS
Incidentally, the Mayans had a
secondary numeral system they
used for calendars and other
formal uses.
There are individual characters
for the first 20 numbers.
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OTHER NUMBER SYSTEMSOTHER NUMBER SYSTEMS
Why 20?
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OTHER NUMBER SYSTEMSOTHER NUMBER SYSTEMS
Fingers and toes!
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OTHER NUMBER SYSTEMSOTHER NUMBER SYSTEMS
Four score and seven years ago our
fathers brought forth, upon this continent,
a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and
dedicated to the proposition that all men
are created equal.
-Abraham Lincoln, 1863
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OTHER NUMBER SYSTEMSOTHER NUMBER SYSTEMS
Here is a sample of a Philippine
Austronesian number system.
What base is used?
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OTHER NUMBER SYSTEMSOTHER NUMBER SYSTEMS
A base 5 number system is
called a quinarysystem.
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OTHER NUMBER SYSTEMSOTHER NUMBER SYSTEMS
The most unusual number system
came from ancient Babylon.
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OTHER NUMBER SYSTEMSOTHER NUMBER SYSTEMS
The most unusual number system
came from ancient Babylon.
Can you tell what base this
number system is?
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OTHER NUMBER SYSTEMSOTHER NUMBER SYSTEMS
The most unusual number system
came from ancient Babylon.
Can you tell what base this
number system is?
The base 60 system is known as a
sexagesimalsystem.