Mayan Numeral System
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History
The earliest known usage of the Mayan numeral system was around 500 B.C., which was about 1,000 years before any other system came to match its versatility and functionality. It has been discovered that almost a century later, the Mayan people shared their concept of "zero", with the nearby Olmec civilization. Mayan numerals are also the first system thought to be vigesimal which means a base-20 system. A base-20 system is one where a new "place value" every 20 numbers. Which is similar to the way in Arabic numerals there is a new place every 10. Arabic is the most commonly used system today and relies heavily on Mayan numerals.
(1). The basic symbols for mayan numerals
(2) A depiction of a Mayan dial, this dial was used for calendars.
Influence
Maya was the first civilization known to have a symbol to represent zero. For example, Roman numerals have different letters to represent numbers, but had no letter for zero. This made it impossible for some simple calculations to be made. Another flaw with previous systems that Maya fixed was the simplicity of multiplication. Using Roman numerals again, the Roman system made for a very tedious process during multiplication as letters having to change in order to get bigger or smaller creates problems as there is no "place value" in where the larger number would go today.Â
Maya also invented one of the first calendars. The Mayan calendar is strongly influenced by the numbers of their culture. The calendar uses increments of 260 days to count the days in a cycle and 365 for days in a cycle. Counting these days would be difficult if it were not for numbers. This calendar system, being one of 365 days, helped to create the system we use today.
Conclusion
In general, Mayan people making a system that could be read and replicated by other civilizations as well as creating a system in which mathematics could be used to multiply in a simpler manner has allowed for many inventions that not only the Maya used but we still use to the benefit of all of humanity.
(3) Representation of how the power or 20 works, which is a key factor for counting in Mayan
In depth on the numeral systems : Mayan Numerals Roman Numerals Arabic Numerals
Orion D.
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