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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
• • •
