History of Computers - Maya Numerical System
The Maya Numerical system was the Base-20 counting system probably developed by the Mayans. It allowed the Mayans to calculate values very precisely and count as high as they wanted to.
Contents
Overview
The Maya Numerical system, unlike our, is a Base-20 numerical system. They used dots to symbolize 1, lines to symbolize 5 and shells to symbolize 0. Numbers under 19 are easy to show. For example, 16 is 3 lines and a dot (3×5 + 1×1 = 16). For 20, the Mayas put a 1 in the 20's group and a zero in the 1's group. Rather than have the groups left to right as in our number system, the Mayans placed their groups top to bottom. For example, 46 would have 2 dots in the 20's group, 1 line in the 1's group and 1 dot in the ones group. Here is a picture of how it would look:
Performing addition and subtraction are easy using the Mayan system. To add, you simply combine the symbols in each place value. Then, if you have more than 5 dots, you replace 5 with a stick. If you have more than 4 sticks, you replace them all with a dot in the next place value column. To subtract, you just remove one symbol for each symbol you are subtracting. You may need to convert a stick to 5 dots or a 1 in the next column to 4 sticks. For more information on how to do math using the Maya Numerical System, visit http://www.michielb.nl/maya/math.html
Significance
The 0 is perhaps the most important of the symbols because it allowed them to display large numbers with ease. The number 3,200,000 is easy to display using the Maya system (a dot and then 4 zeros) but near impossible to display using Roman Numerals. It also allowed them to do complex math and precise calculations. Their math system proved to Europeans that advanced math could be done with a base other than their base-10. Since computers don't use base 10 either, the discovery of a reliable, effective non-base-10 system opened the door to binary mathematics.
Links
http://www.michielb.nl/maya/math.html
