A Story of Numbers

Suppose you are using the number system that uses sticks to represent numbers, as in Method 1. Without using either the number names or the numerals of the Hindu number system, give a method for adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing two numbers or two collections of sticks.

One way of extending the number system in Method 2 is by using strings with more than one letter—for example, we could use 'aa' for 27. How can you extend this system to represent all the numbers? There are many ways of doing it!

Try making your own number system.

Represent the following numbers in the Roman system. (i) 1222 (ii) 2999 (iii) 302 (iv) 715

A group of indigenous people in a Pacific island use different sequences of number names to count different objects. Why do you think they do this?

Identify the features of the Hindu number system that make it efficient when compared to the Roman number system.

Using the ideas discussed in this section, try refining the number system you might have made earlier.

Represent the following numbers in the Egyptian system: 10458, 1023, 2660, 784, 1111, 70707.

Write the following numbers in the above base-5 system using the symbols in Table 2: 15, 50, 137, 293, 651.

Is there a number that cannot be represented in our base-5 system above? Why or why not?

Compute the landmark numbers of a base-7 system. In general, what are the landmark numbers of a base-n system?

Can there be a number whose representation in Egyptian numerals has one of the symbols occurring 10 or more times? Why not?

Create your own number system of base 4, and represent numbers from 1 to 16.

Give a simple rule to multiply a given number by 5 in the base-5 system that we created.

Represent the following numbers in the Mesopotamian system — (i) 63 (ii) 132 (iii) 200 (iv) 60 (v) 3605

Look at the representation of 60. What will be the representation for 3,600?

Represent the following numbers using the Mayan system: (i) 77 (ii) 100 (iii) 361 (iv) 721

Why do you think the Chinese alternated between the Zong and Heng symbols? If only the Zong symbols were to be used, how would 41 be represented? Could this numeral be interpreted in any other way if there is no significant space between two successive positions?

Form a base-2 place value system using 'ukasar' and 'urapon' as the digits. Compare this system with that of the Gumulgal's.

Where in your daily lives, and in which professions, do the Hindu numerals, and 0, play an important role? How might our lives have been different if our number system and 0 hadn't been invented or conceived of?