Mathematics began with the invention of numbers. Early tribes used notches on sticks, pebbles, and knots in ropes to represent numbers.
We use the numerals 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. This is called the
Hindu–Arabic system, but there have been many other number systems before it.
It is important to be able to read and write numbers in our own number system and to understand the rules our numbers follow.
It is important to be able to read and write numbers in our own number system and to understand the rules our numbers follow.
The ancient Egyptian number system
The ancient Egyptians used one of the earliest number systems about 5000 years ago. Pictures called hieroglyphs represented
words or sounds. They were written on papyrus (a type of paper made from reeds) or painted on walls.
The hieroglyphic symbols used by the Egyptians were:
The Australian Aboriginal number system
The Australian Aboriginal way of life had no need for a complicated number system. Their society relied on story-telling and did not have symbols for numbers. Different tribes had their own names for numbers. Here are two examples:
Belgando River Aborigines
1 = Wogin
2 = Booleroo
3 = Booleroo Wogin
4 = Booleroo Booleroo
Kamilaroi Aborigines
1 = Mal
2 = Bulan
3 = Guliba
4 = Bulan Bulan
5 = Bulan Guliba
6 = Guliba Guliba
The Babylonian number system
The ancient kingdom of Babylon existed from about 3000 to 200 BC where Iraq is today. Babylonian writing used wedge shapes called cuneiform. The wedges were stamped into clay tablets which were then baked. Babylonian numerals also used cuneiform.
While our number system is based on 10 and 100, the Babylonian number system was based on 10 and 60.
The Roman number system
The Roman empire was one of the greatest empires. Roman numerals were invented about 2000 years ago. They were used until the end of the 16th century. Today they are used mainly in
clocks and for some page numbers in books.
The modern Chinese number system
Chinese people today use the numerals below.
• The Chinese write from top to bottom.
• The symbols in a number are grouped in pairs and the numbers in
each pair are multiplied together.
• The products are added to give the number.
The Hindu–Arabic number system
Our number system goes back to the Hindus (who lived in India) and came to Europe through the Middle East/Arabia.
Our system needs only 10 symbols called digits: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. It is easier to use because it has a zero and the position of each numeral determines its value. This is called place value.
The numerals first appeared in Europe in the 10th century, but were different to the ten numerals we use today.
Our system needs only 10 symbols called digits: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. It is easier to use because it has a zero and the position of each numeral determines its value. This is called place value.
The numerals first appeared in Europe in the 10th century, but were different to the ten numerals we use today.
The following table shows how our numerals have changed over time.
The Hindus called the zero ‘sunya’ meaning a void. Other names used were ‘cipher’, ‘nought’ and the Arabic ‘sifr’.
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